🏅 QS World Rank #27
Princeton University — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
The Ivy League school with no law or medical school — QS World Rankings 2027 #27
Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, founded in 1746. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is 27th in the world. This guide covers programmes, admission, costs and aid, advice for applicants from Pakistan and the questions applicants ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
Princeton Overview
Princeton was founded in 1746 and is one of the oldest universities in the United States. Unusually among the Ivy League, it has no law school or medical school, and focuses on undergraduate teaching and doctoral research.
It is known for physics, mathematics, economics and public policy through the School of Public and International Affairs.
Princeton Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
Princeton is 27th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. QS weighs reputation and research measures, so US universities with a smaller research footprint can sit lower there than in US-focused rankings.
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods and can order universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Princeton is known for:
- Physics and mathematics
- Public policy — the School of Public and International Affairs
- Economics and the social sciences
- Engineering and applied science, including computer science
- Undergraduate teaching with a senior thesis for most students
- No law or medical school — resources focus on undergraduate and doctoral study
See Princeton’s official website for the full list.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Princeton uses a holistic review. Confirm every requirement on the official admission site.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | Common Application or Coalition application, with essays, recommendations and school documents |
| Deadlines | Single-Choice Early Action: November 1. Regular Decision: January 1 (Princeton’s admission profile). |
| Testing | Princeton’s testing policy has changed in recent years. Check the current policy for your intake. |
| English | International applicants whose first language is not English normally show proof of English. Check the accepted tests. |
| International share | International students are 12.8% of undergraduates (740 students) and 25.1% of applicants (11,679) in the Class of 2030 profile |
Official source: Princeton Admission and Princeton Profile — Admission and Costs.
Princeton Acceptance Rate
Princeton admitted 1,892 of 46,618 applicants for the Class of 2030, an admission rate of 4.1% (Princeton Profile). It is among the most selective universities in the world, and admission is holistic.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your programme and read its entry and language requirements
- Check the application deadline for your intake
- Book an English (or other required) language test
- Prepare transcripts, identification and any required documents
- Apply and accept your offer
- Meet the visa or residence-permit conditions for your destination
- Plan funding for tuition and living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on Princeton’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Official 2026–27 figures from the Princeton Profile:
- Tuition: $68,140
- Housing: $13,010
- Food: $9,110
- Fees: $314
- Miscellaneous: $4,050
- Total cost of attendance: $94,624
Most students do not pay the full amount: the average aid package in 2026–27 is estimated at more than $83,000, and 71% of the Class of 2030 receives aid.
Source: Princeton Profile — Admission and Costs (2026–27).
Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Need-based aid: Princeton gives need-based aid rather than merit scholarships. Per the Profile, families earning up to $150,000 typically receive full-cost coverage and families earning up to $250,000 receive tuition assistance.
- International students: Princeton states that its aid is open to international applicants on the same basis as domestic ones. Confirm the current policy on its financial aid pages.
- Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: aid depends on demonstrated need and the policy in force
Princeton for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process:
- Entry: US-style application with strong marks, essays and recommendations
- English: prepare an accepted English test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Aid: apply for financial aid with the application and prepare the required family financial documents
- Visa: an F-1 student visa is required
- Budget: plan for any gap between aid and the full cost
Campus & Student Life
- Princeton’s campus is in the town of Princeton, New Jersey, about halfway between New York City and Philadelphia
- The campus is known for Collegiate Gothic architecture and green spaces
- Students are assigned to residential colleges
- Eating clubs, student groups and arts and sports activities shape student life
Research & Career Opportunities
- Princeton is research-intensive, with notable work in physics, mathematics and economics
- Graduates go into finance, consulting, technology, public service and graduate study
- The nearby New York and Philadelphia regions offer employers and internships
- Princeton does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Michelle Obama graduated from Princeton in 1985
- Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, graduated from Princeton in 1986
- James Madison and Woodrow Wilson, both US presidents, studied at Princeton
- Albert Einstein worked at the nearby Institute for Advanced Study, which is a separate institution and not part of Princeton
Contact & Location
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
Official website: princeton.edu
Admission: admission.princeton.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Princeton University is ranked 27th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
No. Princeton is unusual among the Ivy League in having neither a law school nor a medical school.
For the Class of 2030, Princeton admitted 1,892 of 46,618 applicants, an admission rate of 4.1%, according to the Princeton Profile.
For 2026–27 the total cost of attendance is $94,624, including tuition of $68,140. Most students receive aid, with an estimated average package of more than $83,000.
Princeton states that its need-based aid is open to international applicants on the same basis as domestic ones. Confirm the current policy on its financial aid pages.
Single-Choice Early Action is November 1 and Regular Decision is January 1, per the Princeton Profile. Check the admission site for your intake.
Princeton is best known for physics, mathematics, economics and public policy.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply through the standard international route and need an F-1 visa if admitted.
International students are 12.8% of undergraduates (740 students) and 25.1% of applicants, per the Class of 2030 profile.
Check Princeton’s official admission and financial aid pages. Deadlines, fees and rules can change.
Compare Princeton With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, Princeton’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the university before applying.