What the funding covers
- Need-blind admission and aid that meets 100% of demonstrated need with grants — no loans.
- Most families with incomes up to $150,000: the full cost of attendance covered — tuition, housing, food, books and personal expenses.
- Most families with incomes up to $250,000: no tuition.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition, housing, food and fees ($68,140 + $13,010 + $9,110 + $314 in 2026–27) | Princeton grants, up to your full need — no loans in any aid package since 2001 |
| Books ($1,050) and personal expenses ($3,000) | Included in the student budget your aid is based on |
| Travel ($50–$5,000 a year, depending on where home is) | Counted as a variable cost in your student budget |
| Application fee | You, or request a fee waiver — international students are eligible |
| Financial aid application (PFAA) | Free — Princeton does not use the CSS Profile or IDOC |
| US student visa: $185 application fee and $350 SEVIS fee, plus a new $250 visa integrity fee that some embassies now charge | You, before you travel |
Who can apply
- First-year applicants from any country applying to Princeton's undergraduate college.
- Aid is calculated from family income and assets; the published thresholds assume typical assets.
Documents you will need
- SAT or ACT only if you want them considered for fall 2027 entry — scores are required again from fall 2028 entry
- An English test if English is not your native language and you have not spent three years at a secondary school taught in English: TOEFL, IELTS Academic, Duolingo or PTE Academic
- The Princeton Financial Aid Application by 1 November (Single-Choice Early Action) or 1 February (Regular Decision)
- Your parents' tax return covering most of 2025 — the original plus a certified English translation — or a non-filer statement if they do not file
How to apply
- Apply through one of the application platforms Princeton accepts (such as the Common Application or QuestBridge) with Princeton's supplement.
- Choose Single-Choice Early Action (1 November) or Regular Decision (1 January).
- Submit the free Princeton Financial Aid Application (PFAA) and your parents' tax documents by the aid deadline — Princeton does not use the CSS Profile.
- Ask for an application fee waiver if needed.
Before you apply: things to know
- Princeton's supplement essays carry weight — start them early and check the current writing requirements.
- Aid is decided after admission, but missing aid documents can delay your offer.
- Use Princeton's aid estimator to check your family's expected contribution before applying.
Common questions
Do I need the CSS Profile for Princeton?
No. Princeton uses its own free form, the PFAA, and does not use the CSS Profile, IDOC or other College Board documents — so there is no card payment to make.
Will applying for aid affect my admission?
No. Princeton is need-blind for international applicants too, meets the full need of every admitted student, and gives grants instead of loans.
Is the SAT or ACT required?
Not for students entering in fall 2027 — Princeton is test-optional for that cycle. From fall 2028 entry, first-year applicants must submit the SAT or ACT.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next typical deadline (Nov 1, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Aug 9, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Aug 23, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Sep 6, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Sep 20, 2026 · NOWOrder transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Oct 4, 2026Second draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically
Oct 18, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Oct 25, 2026Submit — never on the last day
Nov 1, 2026Typical deadline
Related routes
Harvard University
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Yale University
Due in 37 daysDetails →
MIT
Due ≈ in 37 daysDetails →
Amherst College
Due in 45 daysDetails →
Sources
- Princeton University — Princeton enhances financial aid again (August 2025)
- Princeton Admission — Financial aid numbers
- Princeton Admission — International students
- Princeton Admission — Standardized testing
- Princeton Financial Aid — Apply for aid: prospective students
- Princeton Financial Aid — The student budget 2026–27
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — I-901 SEVIS fee
- Boston University ISSO — Visa integrity fee (with the $185 visa fee)
Page reviewed Sep 25, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.