Princeton University

Princeton, NJ · Private non-profit · Doctoral / R1 research university

SAT middle 50% (admitted students)

1510–1580

Median ~1550

Acceptance rate

Enrollment

5,709

ACT middle 50%

34–35

Current admissions guidance for Princeton University

Princeton is a highly selective private research university in New Jersey with a reported 1510–1580 SAT middle-50% range in the federal College Scorecard snapshot. That range describes score submitters rather than an admission cutoff.

SAT/ACT policy

Princeton remains test-optional for students seeking Fall 2027 enrollment and says applicants without scores are not disadvantaged. The university will restore an SAT or ACT requirement beginning with Fall 2028 entry.

Application deadlines

Single-Choice Early Action applications are due November 1. Regular Decision applications are due January 1, and applicants should complete relevant testing by October for early action or December for regular decision.

How to use your SAT score

A score in Princeton's reported 1510–1580 range can reinforce an already exceptional academic record.
Fall 2027 applicants may omit scores without a stated disadvantage when testing does not represent their preparation.
Students planning for Fall 2028 or later should include required SAT or ACT testing in their timeline.

Admissions details checked July 17, 2026. Verify policies before applying: Princeton standardized testing policy · Princeton application dates and deadlines.

How Princeton University compares

The ~1550 SAT midpoint ranks #1 of 197 US colleges with published SAT ranges in this snapshot and #1 of 6 in NJ.
Its 5% acceptance rate is more selective than 99% of the 197 colleges in the same ranked pool.
Reported section midpoints skew 20 points toward Math (770 Math vs 750 Reading and Writing).
Median earnings 10 years after entry ($110,066) are $47,000 above the $63,066 median across that pool.

National SAT rank

#1 of 197

SAT rank in NJ

#1 of 6

More selective than

99% of ranked colleges

Earnings vs national median

+$47,000

What the numbers say about Princeton University

The reported middle 50% spans 70 points, from 1510 to 1580. A planning score near or above 1600 gives you a target above that historical range, not an admission guarantee.
The reported section midpoints are 750 Reading and Writing and 770 Math. Use the lower section as the first place to look for recoverable points in your own score split.
The Scorecard snapshot reports a 5% acceptance rate. That rate describes a past applicant pool and should not be read as your personal admission probability.
Reported outcomes include a 98% completion rate and $110,066 in median earnings 10 years after entry. Compare those figures with cost and program fit, not in isolation.

Understand a 1550 SAT score Plan for a 1600 Verify current admissions policy

Tuition and outcomes

Tuition (in-state)

$62,688

Tuition (out-of-state)

$62,688

Median earnings 10 years after entry

$110,066

4-year completion rate (150% time)

98%

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Documentation version September 2025; repository snapshot imported April 25, 2026. Scorecard fields can come from different reporting years, and this snapshot does not encode one universal data year. SAT totals are rounded to the nearest valid 10 points. Tuition excludes room, board, fees, and books. Read the methodology.

How your SAT score lines up

The Scorecard snapshot places the middle 50% of reported scores between 1510 and 1580. This is descriptive data, not an admission threshold or probability estimate.

1600 SAT planning target: Above the reported middle-50% range.
1580 SAT (reported 75th percentile): At the upper end of the reported middle-50% range.
1550 SAT (median): Within the upper half of the reported range.
1510 SAT (reported 25th percentile): Within the lower half of the reported range.

At or above 1580

Strong relative score

At the upper end of the reported range. Consider submitting if the current policy accepts scores.

1510–1570

Within the reported range

Compare your exact position, section split, and the rest of your academic record.

Below 1510

Below the reported range

Check the current testing policy before deciding whether to withhold the score or retake.

Compare to other colleges →

Colleges with similar SAT scores

Ranked by proximity to Princeton University's reported SAT midpoint. Similar scores do not imply similar programs, cost, or admission odds.

Scroll horizontally to view all columns →

College	Location	SAT middle 50%	Acceptance rate
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, PA	1510–1570	5%
Stanford University	Stanford, CA	1510–1580	4%
Carnegie Mellon University	Pittsburgh, PA	1500–1570	12%
Pomona College	Claremont, CA	1490–1560	7%
Washington University in St Louis	St. Louis, MO	1500–1570	12%
Bowdoin College	Brunswick, ME	1470–1550	7%

FAQs

What SAT score do I need for Princeton University?

Princeton University's Scorecard snapshot shows a middle-50% SAT range of 1510–1580, rounded to valid 10-point totals. 1600 is a planning target above the reported range, not an admission cutoff.

What is Princeton University's acceptance rate?

Princeton University's most recently reported acceptance rate is approximately 5%.

How much does it cost to attend Princeton University?

Published tuition is approximately $62,688 per year (excludes room, board, fees).

Is Princeton University test-optional?

When are Princeton University's application deadlines?

Official site: www.princeton.edu