Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $38,289 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $14K more than the national median. The 67% who received grants paid $15,313 on average; the other 33% paid the full sticker price of $84,040.
- Full price
- $84,040 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Published data end at $110K
- use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- The college's published promise (2026–27 policy)
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $41 a year |
| $30–48K | $352 a year |
| $48–75K | $1K a year |
| $75–110K | $4K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: Princeton University says it doesn't count it.
- A sibling in college may lower the parent share at Princeton University: Support provided to undergraduate siblings for college costs is factored into the family contribution.
$38,289
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
67% got grants averaging $68,727; 33% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$10.3K
≈ $109/month for 10 years
1.4 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
Very few undergrads borrow federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
GenerousGrants cover 54% of the $84,040 full price on average across all first-years (generous), more than at 86% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.
$45,751 in grants per first-year ÷ $84,040 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (1,364), 2023–24
About 1 in 3 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $84,040.
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (1,364)
- Federal aid + grants338avg grant $78.6K
- Grants, no federal aid570avg grant $62.9K
- No grants456pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (341 of 1,364), because income is only reported for them.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Princeton University (2026–27), 2026–27;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)