Look beyond the university name
Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. The institution moved to Newark in 1747 and then to its Mercer County campus in Princeton nine years later. It officially became a university in 1896 and was subsequently renamed Princeton University.
| Location | Princeton, New Jersey, United States |
| Founded | 1746 |
| Institution type | University |
| Total students | 8,799 |
| Faculty & staff | 1,140 |
| Research works (OpenAlex) | 228,321 |
| Total citations | 27,803,108 |
| President | Christopher L. Eisgruber |
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
What can you study at Princeton University?
Academics Undergraduate McCosh 50, the largest lecture hall on campus Princeton follows a liberal arts curriculum, and offers two bachelor's degrees to students: a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.). students choose a major (formerly called concentrations) at the end of sophomore year, while B.S.E. students declare at the end of their freshman year. Students must complete distribution requirements, departmental requirements, and independent work to graduate with either degree. students must complete distribution requirements in literature and the arts, science and engineering, social analysis, cultural difference, epistemology and cognition, ethical thought and moral values, historical analysis, and quantitative and computational reasoning; they must also have satisfactory ability in a foreign language. Additionally, they must complete two papers of independent work during their junior year—known as the junior papers—and craft a senior thesis to graduate; both revolve around the concentration they are pursuing. majors complete fewer courses in the humanities and social sciences and instead fulfill requirements in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer programming. They likewise must complete independent work, which typically involves a design project or senior thesis, but not the junior papers.
Research strengths (by indexed output): Seismic Waves and Analysis, earthquake and tectonic studies, Seismology and Earthquake Studies, Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies, Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena.
For the complete programme catalogue with entry requirements per degree, check the official website.
Official source: Official website ↗
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
Know your admission route
Admissions and financial aid Admissions Undergraduate admissions statistics 2022 entering class Change vs. 2017 Admit rate 5.6% ( −1.6) Yield rate 69.1% ( −0.7) Test scores middle 50% SAT EBRW 760 SAT Math 790 ( +40 median) ACT Composite 35 ( +2 median) High school GPA Average 3.95 ( +0.04) Princeton offers several methods to apply: the Common Application , the Coalition Application , and the QuestBridge Application . Princeton's application requires several writing supplements and submitting a graded written paper. Princeton's undergraduate program is highly selective, admitting 4.0% of undergraduate applicants in the 2025–2026 admissions cycle (for the Class of 2030). The middle 50% range of SAT scores was 1490–1560, the middle 50% range of the ACT composite score was 34–35, and the average high school GPA was a 3.96. For graduate admissions, in the 2021–2022 academic year, Princeton received 12,553 applications for admission and accepted 1,322 applicants, with a yield rate of 51%.
Always verify current deadlines on the official website — third-party sites may carry outdated dates.
Official source: Official website ↗
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
Tuition & costs
Tuition fees change each academic year and differ by programme, study level (undergraduate/graduate) and residency status. JournalsWorld does not publish estimated figures that may be outdated.
Check the university's official tuition & fees page for the current schedule applicable to your intake.
Official source: Official website ↗
Research at Princeton University
According to OpenAlex, Princeton University has 228,321 indexed research works with 27,803,108 total citations.
Rankings Academic rankings National Forbes 2 U.S. News & World Report 2 Washington Monthly 7 WSJ /College Pulse 4 Global ARWU 6 QS 27 THE 3 U.S. News & World Report 14 (tie) Princeton is one of the world's most prominent research universities , featured at the top of U.S. News & World Report ' s national university rankings for the ninth consecutive year in 2024, as well as topping comparable lists by Forbes and The Wall Street Journal .
Most-cited affiliated researchers
- Jia Hao Deng — 63,539 citations
- Wei Dong — 63,539 citations
- Richard Socher — 63,539 citations
- Li-Jia Li — 63,539 citations
- Kai Li — 63,539 citations
Source: OpenAlex (most-cited affiliated authors)
Official source: Official website ↗
Who leads Princeton University?
The current President is Christopher L. Eisgruber.
Christopher Ludwig Eisgruber is an American academic and legal scholar and the 20th president of Princeton University, where he is also the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Public Affairs in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the University Center for Human Values.
Official source: Official website ↗
Campus & student life
Student life and culture Residential colleges The university guarantees housing for students for all four years, with more than 98% of undergraduates living on campus. Freshman and sophomores are required to live on campus, specifically in one of the university's seven residential colleges . Once put into a residential college, students have an upperclassmen residential college adviser to adjust to college life and a faculty academic adviser for academic guidance. Upperclassmen are given the option to keep living in the college or decide to move into upperclassmen dorms; upperclassmen still remain affiliated with their college even if they live somewhere else. Each residential college has its own distinct layout and architecture. Additionally, each college has its own faculty head, dean, director of studies, and director of student life.
For housing options, campus facilities and student services, see the official website.
Official source: Official website ↗
Source: Wikipedia ↗ (reviewed 06 October 2026)
Contact Princeton University
Official website: https://www.princeton.edu ↗
For admissions enquiries, department contacts and phone numbers, use the official contact page.
Official source: Official website ↗
Frequently asked questions
When was Princeton University founded?
Princeton University was founded in 1746.
How many students attend?
Approximately 8,799 students.
What are the admission requirements?
Requirements vary by programme. Check the admission section above and verify on the official website.
How much is tuition?
Tuition changes yearly. See the official tuition page for current figures.
Who is the president?
Christopher L. Eisgruber.