Princeton

April 9, 2025

For the Class of 2028, Princeton University continued its tradition of elite selectivity with an overall acceptance rate of just 4.5%, admitting 1,782 students out of 39,644 applicants. While Princeton offers a Single-Choice Early Action program, the university has not released specific data on acceptance rates or the number of students admitted through that round.

Standardized Testing

Princeton’s admitted class demonstrated extraordinary standardized test performance. Among those who submitted SAT scores, 93% scored between 700–800 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and an impressive 97% scored within that same top range in Math. Only 7% and 3% scored in the 600–699 range for EBRW and Math, respectively. Similarly, ACT scores were exceptionally strong, with 98% of admitted students earning a composite score between 30–36, and just 2% falling between 24–29. These numbers reflect the exceptionally high academic standards and competitive nature of admission to Princeton.

Class of 2028	Overall Acceptance Rate	Single-Choice Early Action Acceptance Rate	Total Number of Applications Received	Total Number of Applications Accepted	Number of Students Admitted Early Action	Percentage of the Class Admitted Early Action
Princeton	4.50%	N/A	39644	1782	N/A	N/A

SAT Score Ranges for First-Year Admitted Students	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing	SAT Math
700-800	93%	97%
600-699	7%	3%

ACT Composite Score Ranges for First-Year Admitted Students
30-36	98%
24-29	2%

Latest Posts

Show all

Carnegie Mellon SCS vs UW Allen School: Two Routes Into Top Computer Science

CMU's School of Computer Science admits under 5 percent regardless of residency, while UW Allen's direct-to-major pathway admitted 37 percent of Washington residents in 2025 but only 5 percent of out-of-state applicants. Compare the two and which to apply to.

UIUC vs Georgia Tech for Computer Science: Two Direct-Admit Public Powerhouses

UIUC admits computer science at under 7 percent and Georgia Tech's College of Computing below its roughly 16 percent campus rate, both direct-admit by major with switching in barred or controlled. Compare the two public CS powerhouses and which to apply to.

UC Berkeley campus from above showing Sather Tower and Berkeley hills, California

UC Berkeley EECS vs L&S Computer Science: How the Two CS Paths Differ for Admissions

At UC Berkeley, EECS (College of Engineering) admits under 5 percent and is direct-admit, while the CS major in CDSS admits at roughly 8 to 10 percent. Here is how the two computer science paths differ for admissions and which to apply to.

How to Get Into a Top Computer Science Program: An Admission-Structure Strategy Guide

Top computer science programs admit through three structures - direct-to-major (UW, Georgia Tech, UT Austin), by-college within engineering (Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley EECS), and admit-then-declare (Stanford, MIT). Which structure a school uses determines the entire CS application strategy.

Nassau Hall at Princeton University, an iconic US university campus building

Which Top Schools Accept the Common App?

All eight Ivy League schools accept the Common Application, and more than 1,000 colleges are members. A few elite holdouts like MIT and the University of California keep their own applications. Here is the full list of top schools and what actually decides elite admissions.

New Ivies vs. Hidden Ivies vs. Public Ivies: A Clear Guide

New Ivies, Public Ivies, Hidden Ivies, and Little Ivies are four distinct labels from different sources. What each one means, where it came from, how they overlap, and which is most useful for your college list.

What Are the New Ivies? The Forbes List, Explained

The New Ivies is Forbes's annually updated list of 20 employer-favored universities, 10 public and 10 private. What the label means, how Forbes builds it, how it differs from Public and Hidden Ivies, and how affluent families should use it in admissions strategy.

Is Cornell Precollege Worth It? 2026 Cost, Credit & Strategy

Cornell Precollege Studies lets high schoolers earn transferable college credit in real Cornell courses, on campus or online. A 2026 strategy guide to cost (roughly $18,000-$20,000 residential), the credit advantage over non-credit programs, Cornell's by-college admissions, and whether it's worth it.