Princeton offers admission to 7.28 percent of applicants
Princeton University has offered admission to 1,939 students, or 7.28 percent of the near-record 26,641 applicants for the Class of 2018 in what is expected to be the most selective admission process in the University's history. This compares with Princeton's admission rate of a record-low 7.29 percent last year. The class size is expected to be 1,308 students for the Class of 2018. This class size is slightly larger than the previously reported estimate of 1,290 because the University has determined it has more capacity for the next academic year.
The University's undergraduate admission office has mailed letters to students in the regular-decision applicant pool, and students will be able to see their decisions via secure online access starting today at 5 p.m. Of the 1,939 students selected for admission, 714 are students who applied through single-choice early action and were offered admission in December.
"We have admitted students this year who are extraordinary in every way," Dean of Admission Janet Lavin Rapelye said. "They are accomplished both in and out of the classroom, and diverse in their backgrounds, talents and perspectives. Many have distinguished themselves in the arts, in academic research, in leadership roles and in service to their communities. We know they will add to the rich intellectual and social environment that makes Princeton the very special place that it is."
This year's applicant pool is among the largest in the University's history. During the past 10 years, Princeton has seen a 94.5 percent increase in applications.
"It is important to note that the pool continues to impress us not only in size, but in exceptionality," Rapelye said. "The task of choosing among such a talented group is equal parts humbling and rewarding. As I have said in the past, we could have filled our class five or six times over with qualified candidates, which is a testament to all of the students whose applications we reviewed and to the educators here and abroad who brought them to our doorstep."
The University's generous aid program will make a Princeton education accessible to prospective students who may not be able to afford it otherwise. All students on financial aid are offered grants that do not have to be repaid — giving students the chance to graduate debt free. The University's admission process is need-blind for both domestic and international students, which means that students are not at any disadvantage if they need financial aid.
Sixty percent of the current student body receives financial aid, compared with 38 percent in the Class of 2001, the last class to enroll before enhancements to Princeton's aid program. Currently, the average grant is $39,350, and for the coming year it is expected to be in excess of $40,000.
Of the applicants, 11,453 had a 4.0 grade point average, and 13,477 had scores of 2,100 or higher on the three sections of the SAT. Among the high schools that rank their students, 97 percent of the admitted applicants are in the top 10 percent of their class. The pool included more than 8,900 high schools from more than 146 countries around the world.
Students receiving offers of admission to the Class of 2018 come from 48 states, plus Washington, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico, with the largest representation from California, followed in order by New Jersey, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida. International students represent 11.4 percent of the admitted students and are citizens of 68 countries, including Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Tanzania, Vietnam and the United Kingdom.
Of the students offered admission, 48.4 percent are women and 51.6 percent are men; 49.2 percent have self-identified as people of color, including biracial and multiracial students. Sixty-one percent of the admitted students come from public schools, and 13.8 percent will be the first in their families to attend college. Sons or daughters of Princeton alumni account for 9.4 percent of the admitted students. Of those offered admission, 25.3 percent indicated they want to study engineering, and a record 43 percent of those students are women.
In addition to the 1,939 students offered admission to the Class of 2018, 1,141 candidates were offered positions on the wait list. Students on the wait list who may be offered admission in May or June would receive the same financial aid considerations as students offered admission this week.
The University witnessed a 12 percent increase in early action applications. This was the third year since 2006 that the University offered an early application round for prospective students whose first college choice was Princeton. The program requires applicants to apply early only to Princeton, and allows them until May to decide whether to accept Princeton's offer.
Up to 35 members of the new class are expected to defer their enrollment for a year to participate in Princeton's Bridge Year Program. The University-sponsored program allows incoming freshmen to spend a tuition-free year engaging in international service work abroad in China, India, Peru, Senegal and Brazil. Applications for the Bridge Year Program will be due in May from students who accept the University's offer of admission.
Admitted candidates have until May 1 to accept Princeton's offer of admission.
