Whether in the classroom, dining hall or residential college, you will bring the entirety of yourself, your background and your experience to every interaction. This is the time of your life when you’ll also grow in ways you can’t even imagine. While you value where you came from, your academic and social experience will take you someplace you have never been — intellectually, emotionally and physically. Living and learning in a rich cultural environment will transform your life, as well as the lives of everyone you meet. As Dean of the College Jill Dolan says, “At Princeton, ‘diversity’ is more than a catchphrase. It’s a way of life for those who care about building a global community of citizens who practice caring for one another and the world.”
At Princeton, we work hard to ensure that our community is diverse and intellectually stimulating. Differences in race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, geography, gender, sexual orientation, academic and social interests, and political predilections all add to Princeton’s robust and varied student community. Karen Richardson, dean of admission, says, “When students from different backgrounds lend their voices and talents to the academic and social fabric of the campus, every member of the community benefits. It’s what makes Princeton the dynamic, intellectual learning space that it is.”
Wherever you go on our campus, you will find others who share your values, heritage and interests, as well as many who, refreshingly, don't. "Princeton University is home to a diverse community of scholars and students who hail from a dazzling variety of backgrounds. The perspectives that all of us bring to campus enrich the University in myriad ways, smashing old stereotypes, provoking new visions of what our world can be, and creating a campus life that is vibrant, colorful and inclusive," says Christopher L. Eisgruber, Princeton University president.
When students from different backgrounds lend their voices and talents to the academic and social fabric of the campus, every member of the community benefits. It’s what makes Princeton the dynamic, intellectual learning space that it is.
Learn more about our commitment to diversity, the key initiatives and resources that will help to build support and enrich our campus community.