Princeton University has offered admission to 770 students from a pool of 5,003 candidates who applied through single-choice early action for the Class of 2021. The pool was the largest in the last six years, representing an 18.3 percent increase over last year's early applicant pool.
Princeton's undergraduate admission office mailed notification letters to students Dec. 15, 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 is $48,000.
The admitted students represent 45 countries and 42 states, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Forty-three percent of the admitted students are U.S. students from diverse backgrounds and 11 percent are international students. The admitted students are balanced in terms of gender: 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men.
Fifty-seven percent of the admitted students come from public schools, and 14 percent are the first in their families to attend college. Sixteen percent of the admitted students are children of Princeton alumni. Twenty percent of the admitted students indicated they want to study engineering.
"The academic and personal strengths of these admitted students are extraordinary," Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye said. "The early action process this year was especially challenging given the depth of the applicant pool. The admission rate was 15.4 percent."
This is the sixth year that the University has offered an early application round for prospective students whose first college choice is Princeton. In 2015, the early admit rate was 18.6 percent, 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 early action 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.
