National Universities USA – 2016 – Princeton University – Rank 1/100

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544
Phone: (609) 258-3000

Princeton University is a private institution that was founded in 1746. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,391, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 600 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Princeton University’s ranking in the 2016 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 1. Its tuition and fees are $43,450 (2015-16).

Princeton, the fourth-oldest college in the United States, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Within the walls of its historic ivy-covered campus, Princeton offers a number of events, activities and organizations. The Princeton Tigers, members of the Ivy League, are well known for their consistently strong men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. Students live in one of six residential colleges that provide a residential community as well as dining services but have the option to join one of more than 10 eating clubs for their junior and senior years. The eating clubs serve as social and dining organizations for the students who join them. Princeton’s unofficial motto, “In the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations,” speaks to the university’s commitment to community service.

Princeton includes highly ranked graduate programs through theWoodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. One unique aspect of Princeton’s academic program is that all undergraduate students are required to write a senior thesis. Notable alumni include U.S. President Woodrow Wilson; John Forbes Nash, subject of the 2001 film “A Beautiful Mind”; model/actress Brooke Shields; and first lady Michelle Obama. According to Princeton legend, if a student exits campus through FitzRandolph Gate prior to graduation, he or she may be cursed never to graduate.

Princeton University is unique in combining the strengths of a major research university with the qualities of an outstanding liberal arts college. Whether through independent study, student-initiated seminars, or lectures in emerging fields such as neuroscience, Princeton students have the flexibility to shape dynamic academic programs that prepare them for leadership and lives of service. Through its groundbreaking financial aid program, Princeton ensures that all qualified students who are accepted can afford to attend the University. Chartered in 1746, Princeton is renowned for its commitment to undergraduate teaching. Its faculty are known throughout the world and it is not unusual for students to learn from Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur fellows. Students benefit from small class sizes and one-on-one advising with faculty, particularly while doing independent work such as the senior thesis. All intellectual endeavors of Princeton’s 5,320 degree-seeking undergraduate students are supported by a range of first-rate academic resources, such as libraries, laboratories, and even an art museum. The academic options at Princeton give students flexibility in pursuing their intellectual interests while working toward either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Students also may choose from among 47 interdisciplinary programs, creating combinations of academic interests. For example, a student might major in physics while also earning a certificate in Latin American studies. The University is located in the town of Princeton, which has a diverse population of 30,000 residents and is situated between New York City and Philadelphia, with rail service to both cities. Princeton is a residential university that provides a welcoming environment, advising services, cultural and educational events, intramural sports, and more. As a residential community, Princeton provides housing for all four years. Princeton’s six residential colleges offer settings where students quickly can become involved in campus activities. Students can participate in more than 300 student-run organizations, the arts, civic engagement, student government, religious groups, and athletics.

Tuition and fees:

$43,450 (2015-16)

Enrollment:

5,391

Rankings, Scores & Key Indicators

Score – 100
High school counselor score (out of 5) – 4.9
Average freshman retention rate – 98%
Classes with fewer than 20 students – 71.8%
Classes with 50 or more students – 11%
Student-faculty ratio 6:1
Fall 2014 acceptance rate – 7.4%
6-year graduation rate – 97%

John Witherspoon, President of the College (1768-94), signer of the Declaration of Independence