How to Get Into Princeton: SAT and ACT Scores, GPA, and More

We can’t lie. It’s pretty exciting to think about attending Princeton University, currently the #1 university in the United States. If you’re someone seeking the best of the best for college, Princeton is it.

Princeton University has always had a sterling reputation, but it’s harder to get into than ever, so before we dive into a thorough guide to getting into Princeton, let’s take a look at some cold hard facts about what it takes to get in.

Quick Princeton Admissions Statistics

So as you can see, getting into Princeton is far from a cake-walk! But if academics are your jam, you just might stand a chance. This is a great overview of everything you need to know about Princeton’s undergraduate admissions, but let’s take a look at each of the critical pieces of your Princeton application.

A Word About Princeton Admissions and Test Scores in Response to Covid-19

You can read the full overview of Princeton admissions changes due to Covid-19, but here are some highlights:

• Standardized test requirements were paused for the 2020-2021 application cycle, and will continue to be paused for the 2021-2022 application cycle (for Fall 2022 entry). This means that applications will continue to be considered complete without standardized test scores. Please check this page above frequently for updates on testing policies.
• The regular admissions deadline for Princeton University is January 1, 2022. The singe-choice early action deadline is November 1.

Below we will detail the SAT and ACT requirements for Princeton outside of Covid-19 circumstances.

More About Princeton SAT Scores

As noted above, the average composite SAT score of students admitted to Princeton is 1505 out of 1600, which is a very high average.

As far as the percentiles go:

• The 25the percentile for Princeton SAT scores is 1440
• The 75th percentile for Princeton SAT scores is 1570

Okay, but what does this actually mean? Well, it means that if you score at or below a 1430, you’ll be below average compared to students admitted to Princeton. On the other hand, if you score a 1570 (a nearly perfect score!) or higher, you’ll be above average compared to other applicants.

In terms of the individual subjects on the SAT, here’s how the percentiles shake out:

Or, you can think of it this way. For the class of 2021 (the most recent stats available, here is the percentage of students admitted by SAT score:

Nadyja von Ebers is one of Magoosh’s Content Creators. Nadyja holds an MA in English from DePaul University and has taught English and at the high school and college levels for twelve years. She has a decade of experience teaching preparation for the AP exams, the SAT, and the ACT, among other tests. Additionally, Nadyja has worked as an academic advisor at college level and considers herself an expert in all things related to college-prep. She’s applied her college expertise to posts such as UCLA Admissions: The SAT Scores, ACT Scores, and GPA You Need to Get in and A Family Guide to College Admissions. Nadyja loves helping students reach their maximum potential and thrives in both literal and virtual classrooms. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys reading and writing for pleasure and loves spending time in or near the ocean. You can connect with her on LinkedIn! View all posts