Princeton University Acceptance Rate
Princeton, New Jersey · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 39,644
- Admitted
- 1,782
- Yield
- 76.7%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Princeton University's acceptance rate has fallen from 7.4% in 2014–15 to 4.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 26,641 to 39,644 (+49%) over that period.
Its 4.5% rate makes Princeton University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 28 tracked New Jersey schools, it is more selective than about 96%.
Princeton University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 76.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 26,641 | 1,983 | 7.4% | 1,312 |
| 2015–16 | 27,290 | 1,948 | 7.1% | 1,319 |
| 2016–17 | 29,303 | 1,911 | 6.5% | 1,306 |
| 2017–18 | 31,056 | 1,990 | 6.4% | 1,306 |
| 2018–19 | 35,370 | 1,940 | 5.5% | 1,339 |
| 2019–20 | 32,804 | 1,895 | 5.8% | 1,335 |
| 2020–21 | 32,835 | 1,848 | 5.6% | 1,154 |
| 2021–22 | 37,601 | 1,647 | 4.4% | 1,290 |
| 2022–23 | 38,019 | 2,167 | 5.7% | 1,499 |
| 2023–24 | 39,644 | 1,782 | 4.5% | 1,366 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 20,103 | 912 | 4.5% |
| Men | 19,541 | 870 | 4.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 740–780 | 57% |
| SAT Math | 760–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 20% |
How Princeton University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Princeton University's acceptance rate?
Princeton University's acceptance rate is 4.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,782 admitted of 39,644 applicants).
Is Princeton University test optional?
Princeton University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Princeton University?
Princeton University received 39,644 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,782.
What SAT score do you need for Princeton University?
Admitted students at Princeton University typically scored 740–780 on SAT Reading/Writing and 760–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Princeton University getting harder to get into?
Princeton University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 7.4% in 2014–15 to 4.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.princeton.edu/.