Princeton University has offered admission to 785 students from a pool of 4,229 candidates who applied through single-choice early action for the Class of 2020. The pool was the largest in the last five years, representing a 9.8 percent increase over last year's early applicant pool.
Princeton's undergraduate admission office mailed notification letters to students Dec. 16, and the decisions were available to applicants via secure online access on the same day.
Princeton's pioneering financial aid program provides the assistance necessary to make sure that any student who is admitted and needs financial aid can attend. Because no student is required to take out loans, Princeton's aid program allows its students to graduate debt free. Approximately 60 percent of undergraduate students receive financial aid, and the average grant per year is more than $40,000.
The admitted students represent 33 countries, 46 states and the District of Columbia. Forty-two percent of the admitted students are U.S. students from diverse backgrounds and 11 percent are international students. Fifty-one percent of the admitted students are women, and 49 percent are men.
Fifty-six percent of the admitted students come from public schools, and 13 percent are the first in their families to attend college. Sixteen percent of the admitted students are children of Princeton alumni. Twenty-one percent of the admitted students indicated they want to study engineering.
"The admitted early candidates are outstanding and we would be delighted to welcome them to Princeton," Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye said. "The pool was especially strong and deep this year and we had to make some difficult decisions. The admission rate was 18.6 percent."
This is the fifth year that the University has offered an early application round for prospective students whose first college choice is Princeton. In 2014, the early admit rate was 19.9 percent. In 2013, the early admit rate was 18.5 percent, compared with 18.3 percent in 2012 and 21.1 percent in 2011.
Early action applicants may apply early only to Princeton, and if admitted, they can wait to decide whether to accept Princeton's offer until the end of the regular admission process in the spring.
Candidates deferred during the early action process will be reconsidered during the regular decision application process. Regular decision candidates must apply by Jan. 1 and will receive notification of their decision by late March.
