Is Princeton test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1530 and hold it if it's under.

What is Princeton's acceptance rate?

4.6% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 1,868 of 40,468 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 48%, from 27,290 in 2015 to 40,468 in 2024, and Princeton's admit rate went from 7.1% to 4.6%.

What ACT score do you need for Princeton?

20% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 34–35, with a median of 35. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1490–1560 works out to about 34–35.

What GPA do you need for Princeton?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.96 high school GPA, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

How many students get off the waitlist at Princeton?

36 of the 1,086 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 3.3%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Princeton? (Middle 50%: 1490–1560)

First-year students at Princeton who sent an SAT scored 1490–1560, with a median of 1530 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Princeton admits 4.6% of applicants and is test optional.

Princeton University · Princeton, NJ

Where your score lands at Princeton

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1490–1560, median 1530

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Princeton is for you and whether to send your score.

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Princeton by the numbers

Admit rate: 4.6%
Middle 50% SAT: 1490–1560
Median SAT: 1530
About on the ACT: 34–35
Sent an SAT: 60%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Princeton admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Princeton admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 48%, from 27,290 in 2015 to 40,468 in 2024, and Princeton's admit rate went from 7.1% to 4.6%.

7.1%
4.6%

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	40,468	1,868	4.6%
2023	39,644	1,782	4.5%
2022	38,019	2,167	5.7%
2021	37,601	1,647	4.4%
2020	32,835	1,848	5.6%
2019	32,804	1,895	5.8%
2018	35,370	1,940	5.5%
2017	31,056	1,990	6.4%
2016	29,303	1,911	6.5%
2015	27,290	1,948	7.1%

In fall 2024, 1,410 of the 1,868 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Princeton

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1530Far reachHold
1530–1550Far reachSend
1560 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Princeton SAT sections, ACT and GPA

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	760	790	800
SAT Reading and Writing	740	760	780
SAT total	1490	1530	1560
ACT composite	34	35	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 60% sent an SAT and 20% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.96; 99% of new students reported one

Princeton waitlist

Waitlist

1,370 applicants were offered a spot, 1,086 took it, and 36 were admitted from it.

3.3%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Princeton cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $6,128; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 98%
Median earnings: $110,066; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 5,882

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Princeton

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in New Jersey

Every college for an SAT of1490 1530 1560

Sources

Princeton Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Princeton admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Princeton website
Princeton University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1490–1560, and the median was 1530. At 1530 or higher you're above half of them. Princeton admits 4.6% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$