When Do Princeton Decisions Come Out?

Updated:
July 12, 2024
4 min read
Expert Reviewed
Contents

”Mary

Reviewed by:

Mary Banks

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 7/12/24

When does Princeton release decisions? If you’re curious about when you’ll hear back from Princeton, read on! 

Princeton University, located in Princeton, NJ, is ranked by U.S. News World and Report as the best national university. The school receives tens of thousands of first-year applications each cycle. If you've applied to Princeton, you're probably wondering, "When do Princeton decisions come out?" 

Read on to learn more about when Princeton decisions come out, the pros and cons of each application timeline, and more. If you haven’t applied yet, take a look at our Princeton guide for tips on how to wow the admissions committee.

About Princeton

Princeton University is an Ivy League school, making it a popular top choice for ambitious high school students. The school’s unofficial motto, "Princeton in the nation's service and the service of humanity," reflects the institution's commitment to service and scholarship while inspiring students to live purposeful lives. 

Undergraduate Princeton students benefit from the school’s status as a top-tier teaching and research university with abundant resources. Students can cultivate their creativity and innovation as they explore a curriculum of liberal arts in: 

  • Humanities
  • Arts
  • Social sciences
  • Natural sciences
  • Engineering

At Princeton, you’ll receive a world-class interdisciplinary education to prepare you for any path.

When Do Princeton Decisions Come Out? 

Princeton plans to release decisions by late March. The are windows for when you may receive a decision. Please note that Princeton decision dates are subject to change. 

Single-Choice Early Action 

Princeton admission decisions will be made by mid-December. If you're accepted, you'll have until May 1 to decide. You can also apply to other schools for regular decision, so you can compare offers of admission and financial aid from different places.

Regular Decision 

Regular Decision Princeton applicants will get notified by the end of March or the beginning of April on Ivy League Decision Day

Transfer Application 

Princeton transfer applications are due on March 1. You’ll receive your admissions decision in mid-May

To recap, these are the important dates you should know for each decision pathway: 

Application Component/ Event Single-Choice Early Action Dates Regular Decision Dates Transfer Dates
Common Application and Princeton Supplement available Mid-August Mid-August Fall
Application with all mandatory components due November 1 November 1 March 1
Optional Arts Supplement due November 6 November 6 March 8
Princeton financial aid application due November 9 November
9
March 9
Decision notification Mid-December Late March Mid-May

Sources: Princeton University and Princeton University

What Are the Ways I Can Apply to Princeton? 

You can apply to Princeton through Single-Choice Early Action (EA), Regular Decision (RD), or as a transfer student. You can apply using the Common Application. High school seniors and graduates can choose to apply through EA or RD. 

Single-Choice Early Action

Applying through Princeton’s EA program is an excellent option if it’s your first-choice school. Princeton’s EA is non-binding, meaning you’re not obligated to enroll if accepted. 

Regular Decision

Most students apply to Princeton through Regular Decision; Princeton decisions come out on Ivy Day if you do. 

Transfer Applications

Transfer applicants must follow many of the same steps as first-year applicants. You must use the Common App to apply. 

For early decision programs, you are selecting one school and signing a contract that if you are admitted to this school, you will attend.

{{Insert Consultant Quote Here}}

Title: Applying Early for Ivy League Schools

Jennifer, Admissions Consultant at Harvard University, offers this advice for applying early to Ivy League schools:

"The early decision process makes the enrollment management aspect of university admissions very straightforward, and it's a popular way for schools to ascertain your interest. They know that you're committed to coming and that if they admit one student, one will come. This does boost your admissions chances. The restrictive early action program, which is a slight variation on ED that is offered by some schools like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford, still has the November 1st deadline, and you can only select that option for one institution. The difference is that you don't have to decide right away. You're not locked into attending that school if you're admitted; you can still let other application decisions come from other means, like early action programs and regular decision application deadlines that are non-binding, and then you can decide in May. Knowing the nuances is important; we can help you understand and coach you through what's best for you."

Curious about your chances of getting into Princeton? Our 'Will I Get Into Princeton?' Quiz is here to help! By answering questions about your academics, extracurriculars, and readiness, you'll receive an informed analysis based on real admissions data. 

Unlike other quizzes, ours uses historical admissions data to provide a realistic assessment. Take the quiz today to see how you match up with Princeton's standards!

Pros and Cons of Each Program 

Now that you know when Princeton decisions come out, you can choose which program works best for you. Below, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each method.

Single-Choice Early Action

While most Princeton applicants apply through Regular Decision, there are some benefits to applying early: 

  • Generally higher acceptance rates (although this can be attributed to the quality of early applications) 
  • You’ll receive your admissions decision sooner (Princeton EA release dates are in December)
  • You still have the option to compare financial aid packages at other schools 
  • You don’t necessarily need to attend Princeton if you’re accepted

It’s equally imperative to consider the downsides of EA: 

  • Your application and materials are due much sooner 
  • You can’t apply to an early program at any other university 
  • You may be deferred to Regular Decision 
  • Although you'll be competing against fewer applicants, these students typically produce impressive applications: you'll need to work harder to stand out 

If Princeton is your first-choice school and you’re confident you can perfect your application on time, EA might be right. 

Regular Decision 

These are some benefits of applying through Regular Decision at Princeton: 

  • More time to work on your application
  • You have more time to make an admissions decision
  • You can apply to early decision at other schools if Princeton isn't your first choice

As with all programs, these are other factors to consider: 

  • You’ll have to wait longer for decisions to come out (the Princeton RD release date is in March)
  • You may have a tough choice to make regarding where to attend 
  • Statistically, RD acceptance rates are lower than ED or EA (but this makes sense since many more students apply through RD) 

We don't recommend basing your program decision on statistics alone. RD may be better for you if you need more time to create a stellar application. Remember, though, that as an Ivy League school, Princeton attracts tens of thousands of Regular Decision applicants yearly. 

Transfer Applications 

Princeton University transfers must follow the same application timeline; there aren’t the same pros and cons as there are for first-year students. 

If your transfer application is successful, you’ll gain entry to Princeton! However, you should know that admission is competitive. During the 2022-2023 transfer cycle at Princeton University, there were 1,201 applicants. The university offered admission to 35 of them, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 2.91%.

Princeton Decisions FAQs 

Read on to learn more about Princeton's decisions! 

1. What Time Do Princeton Decisions Come Out? 

Princeton Regular Decision notifications are typically released between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST on Ivy Day. 

2. When Do Princeton Early Decisions Come Out? 

Princeton's early decisions come out in mid-December. 

3. What Is Princeton’s Acceptance Rate? 

Princeton’s acceptance rate is approximately 5.78%. 

4. Should I Apply to Princeton Through Early Action?

You should consider applying through Early Action if Princeton is your first-choice school and you're sure you can create, refine, and submit your application on time. 

5. How Hard Is It to Transfer to Princeton? 

Few Princeton University transfers are accepted annually. The current Princeton transfer student acceptance rate is around 2.91%. 

6. What Type of Students Get Into Princeton? 

Princeton seeks students “with intellectual curiosity, who have pursued and achieved academic excellence. We also look for students with strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments.”

7. When Does Princeton Send Out Likely Letters? 

Princeton sends out likely letters between October and March. However, don’t fret if you don’t receive one; many applicants are accepted to Princeton without receiving likely letters. 

Final Thoughts 

Waiting to hear your admissions decision is tough, but you'll soon know your application's fate. Now that you know when Princeton decisions come out, you can watch out for your admissions decision.

While you’re waiting, ensure you keep up with your grades and pursue meaningful activities. Good luck! 

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