Princeton University Tuition and Fees

By Kevin Brouillard

(Last Updated – 08/2025)

Princeton University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, is a prestigious Ivy League institution founded in 1746. Known for its rigorous academics, world-class faculty, and generous financial aid, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines like engineering, humanities, and public policy. With a strong emphasis on research and independent study, Princeton fosters intellectual curiosity and leadership in a close-knit, collaborative campus environment.

Total Cost of Attendance

The total cost of attendance at Princeton University in 2024-25 was $86,988, which is significantly higher than the national average of $62,990 at private colleges.

Here’s a look at how those costs break down:

Financial Aid

More than half of undergraduates at Princeton (61%) use financial aid to help cover the tuition and other costs. This may be scholarships, grants, student loans, or a combination of these.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  SoFi Scholarship Finder – Use our handy tool to streamline your search by award type, location, level of study and more.

Recommended: New Jersey Student Loan & Scholarship Information

Private Student Loans

A large share of students (44%) take out student loans to help cover Pepperdine tuition and other costs: 42% take out federal loans, and 10% get private student loans (with an average amount of $17,344).

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

The total cost to attend Princeton University for four years — including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other expenses — is $347,952 (based on 2024-25 numbers). This is higher than the national average of $251,960 for four years at a private university.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2024-25

Princeton University undergraduate tuition and fees for 2024-25 were $62,688, which represents a 5% increase over 2023-24.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2024-25

•   Average tuition: $62,400

•   Fees: $3,536

Tuition and fees for graduate students at Princeton for 2024-25 averaged $65,936. This is substantially higher than the average cost of graduate school tuition and fees in the U.S., which is $22,430 per year.

There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

The cost per credit at Princeton ranges from $2,090 to $2,612, depending on how many credits you take per semester.

Campus Housing Expenses

Princeton offers seven residential colleges, where students live, eat, study, and socialize. All first-year students and sophomores must live and dine in a residential college.

Costs for 2024-25

•   Housing and food expenses (on campus): $20,250

•   Other living expenses (on campus): $3,000

Total living expenses for the 2024-25 academic year were estimated at $23,250.

Princeton Acceptance Rate

The Princeton University acceptance rate is 4%, which makes the school extremely selective.

Admission Requirements

To apply to Princeton as a first-year student, you’ll need to submit:

•  The Common App (including Princeton-specific questions)

•  Official high school transcripts (sent by your school counselor)

•  School Report (submitted by your counselor through the Common App site)

•  Counselor recommendation

•  Two teacher recommendations

•  Midyear school report (submitted by your counselor when your midyear grades are available)

•  A graded written paper, preferably in English or history

•  SAT/ACT scores (optional)

Application deadlines:

•  Early Action: November 1 (with decisions by mid-December)

•  Regular Decision: January 1 (with decisions by late March)

SAT and ACT Scores

Though submitting test scores is currently optional at Princeton, it can be helpful to know the average scores of other students who chose to submit their scores.

Here are the standardized test scores of students who enrolled in Fall 2023 at the 25th and 75th percentiles.

Popular Majors at Princeton University

Students apply to Princeton University, not to individual departments, programs or schools. Once enrolled, you may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Within these programs, you can choose from among 37 majors and over 50 minors and interdepartmental certificate programs.

Here are some of the most popular areas of study at the school:

1. Computer Science

Computer science majors focus on the theoretical foundations and practical applications of computing. They study algorithms, data structures, programming languages, and hardware/software systems, while also exploring specialized areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and security.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 201

2. Economics

Economics majors delve into individual markets, the aggregate economy, and the influence of government policies on various topics, including supply and demand, price controls, interest rates, and international trade.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 132

3. Public Policy

This is a multidisciplinary major for undergraduates seeking to go into public service and become leaders in the world of public or international affairs. They study policymaking, policy analysis, policy evaluation, and economics, among other subjects.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 114

4. Operations Research and Financial Engineering

This major combines coursework in science, math, computing, and technology to provide a strong intellectual foundation for a variety of careers. Students can design a program based on their particular interests and goals.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 77

5. History

History majors delve into a broad range of historical periods and regions. They learn how to analyze historical events critically, conduct original research, and formulate compelling arguments about the past and its impact on the present and future.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 72

6. Politics

The politics program focuses on four key areas: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Students also take coursework in quantitative analysis, political economy, and strategy in politics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 57

7. Molecular Biology

Students who major in molecular biology study the fundamental building blocks of life at the molecular and cellular level. They explore how these components are constructed, how they interact, and how they respond to internal and external changes.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 52

8. Psychology

Psychology majors delve into the science of behavior and mental processes, exploring topics like sensation, perception, cognition, and social interaction. The program also emphasizes research methods and statistics, and prepares students for careers or further study in various psychology-related fields.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 50

9. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This program focuses on the fundamental principles of mechanics and their application to both mechanical and aerospace systems. Students study areas like fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science, dynamics, and control systems, with a strong emphasis on design, manufacturing, and research.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 45

10. Mathematics

Mathematics is a rigorous program that covers a broad range of mathematical concepts and applications, with a strong emphasis on foundational theory and mathematical proofs. Students study core areas like real and complex analysis, algebra, and geometry/topology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 38

Graduation Rate

The vast majority of Princeton students complete their degree in four years. But some students take longer. Here are the graduation rates for students who began at the school in 2017.

•  4 years: 80%

•  6 years: 97%

Post-Graduation Average Earnings

The average annual salary for Princeton University graduates is $101,000. This is significantly higher than the average projected starting salary for the class of 2025 at the bachelor’s degree level, which is $68,680.