How to Apply

For each class, we bring together a varied mix of high-achieving, intellectually gifted students from diverse backgrounds to create an exceptional learning community. 

We care about what students have accomplished in and out of the classroom. The process is highly selective. In recent years, we've offered admission to less than 7 percent of applicants.

As you prepare your application, help us to appreciate your talents, academic accomplishments and personal achievements. We'll ask for your transcript and recommendations, and we will want to know more than just the statistics in your file. Tell us your story. Show us what’s special about you. Tell us how you would seize the academic and nonacademic opportunities at Princeton and contribute to the Princeton community. Above all, please write in a style that reflects your own voice.

Princeton accepts the Coalition Application, Common Application, and the Universal College Application. Princeton treats them all equally. To apply, you will need to submit online either the Coalition Application, the Common Application or the Universal College Application, plus the Princeton Supplement.

Application Checklist

1. Submit

   • The Coalition Application, Common Application or the Universal College Application
   • Princeton Supplement
   • Graded Written Paper
2. Request

   • Transcript
   • School Report
   • School Counselor Letter
   • Two (2) Teacher Recommendations
3. Report

   • SAT or ACT
   • Two (2) SAT Subject Tests (recommended, but not required)
   • TOEFL, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic (nonnative speakers of English without 3 years of high school in English)

Full Details

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When to Apply

You have two choices for applying to Princeton for first-year admission — single-choice early action or regular decision. Before you begin preparing your application, we strongly encourage you to review our standardized testing policy, which includes detailed information regarding our standardized testing requirements.

Single-choice Early Action, also known as restrictive early action

(If you have thoroughly researched your college options and have decided that Princeton is your first choice) Learn more about single-choice early action.

Nov. 1 

• Application Due

Nov. 9

• Princeton Financial Aid Application Due

Regular Decision

Jan. 1

• Application Due

Feb. 1 

• Princeton Financial Aid Application Due

More Application Dates & Deadlines

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Who Can Apply

• First-year fall applicants
• Transfer students through the transfer admission process

If a student has submitted an application on three separate occasions, the Office of Admission generally will not review subsequent applications. In these instances, if an application fee was submitted, it will be returned.

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Fee Waiver

We want to make sure that Princeton is accessible to all candidates, regardless of their individual family’s financial situation. If you are from a low-income background, or if the application fee is a hardship for your family, and you are applying for financial aid, Princeton will waive your application fee. Additionally, we will waive the application fee for all candidates who are serving or have served in the U.S. military. You may submit a fee waiver one of two ways:

1. Select the fee waiver option on the Common Application, Coalition Application or the Universal College Application. Your college or guidance counselor must approve your fee waiver request online or submit your fee waiver form by mail or fax.
2. Select one of the following fee waiver options on the Princeton Supplement: Princeton-specific, ACT, College Board, NACAC or Realize Your College Potential. All low-income students are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. In addition, all applicants who are serving or have served in the U.S. military are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. If you use the Princeton-specific fee waiver, you do not need to get approval from your college counselor. Students named QuestBridge Finalists should select the QuestBridge fee waiver.

Upon submission of your Common Application, Coalition Application or Universal College Application with the Princeton Supplement, the checklist in your Princeton Applicant Portal will reflect that your fee waiver has been granted. Please note that applying for a fee waiver will not disadvantage your application in any way.

Undocumented or DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Students

Princeton’s admission and financial aid policies are the same for undocumented or DACA students as they are for all other students applying to the University for admission or financial aid.

The University’s generous need-based financial aid program applies equally to all applicants. If admitted, undocumented students can be confident that their full financial need, as determined by the financial aid office, will be met.

We encourage undocumented students to consult with the Office of Admission and the Office of Financial Aid if they have any questions about our process.

Veterans' Benefits

Princeton University especially welcomes applications from veterans and dependents who are eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which include the Yellow Ribbon Program, and complies with the principles outlined in Executive Order 13607.

Princeton participates fully in the Yellow Ribbon Program without limitation on the number of students who are eligible. The executive order addresses key areas relating to federal military and veterans' educational benefits programs. Please visit our U.S. Military Applicants section to learn more. 

Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services offers a range of services to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to Princeton's academic and extracurricular opportunities.

The Disability Services staff is available to meet with prospective students who are visiting the campus. Also, for more information you may visit the Office of Disability Services website.

The University's admission process involves a holistic review of each applicant's entire file. No particular factor is assigned a fixed weight; rather, the process involves a highly individualized assessment of the applicant's talents, achievements and his or her potential to contribute to learning at Princeton. Please see the Joint Statement on Common Ivy Group Admission Procedures for more information about admission policies.