Grad School Sees Diversity Progress, Record for International Applicants

The Graduate School’s applicant pool jumped 7 percent this year as applications from international students rose 7.6 percent to a record figure. The school offered admission to 1,373 master’s and Ph.D. students, and 668 accepted offers — a yield of 48.7 percent.

“Anecdotally, international applications remain consistently strong at our peer institutions as well,” said Mary Bechler, senior associate dean for finance and administration, noting final figures are not yet available. The Council of Graduate Schools reported a decline in international graduate applications last year, she said — primarily in master’s and certificate programs. This year’s survey has not been released.

Of those students accepting Princeton’s offer of admission, 394 are from the United States and 274 from other countries; 496 will pursue a Ph.D. and 172 will work toward a master’s degree. 

The computer science department will see a significant increase in entering students this fall, reflecting “tremendous interest” in the field, according to Sarah-Jane Leslie *07, dean of the Graduate School. “Computer science and data science are areas that the University is investing in,” she said. “Their faculty has grown in recent years, so the graduate population should stay in step.” 

In addition, 127 women accepted Princeton’s offer of admission in STEM-related departments, the highest number in at least five years. 

“Over the past several years and this year in particular, we’ve put a lot of effort and energy behind all aspects of diversity: women in STEM, underrepresented minority students, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, students who are the first in their families to go to college, and other dimensions of diversity,” Leslie said. 

The incoming graduate students include 77 who identify as underrepresented minorities, including multiracial students. School officials said that is a record number, as are both the 781 underrepresented minority students who applied and the 156 who were admitted. Thirty-eight percent of incoming U.S. students are first-generation low-income or underrepresented minorities.