Princeton extended offers of admission to 1,890 students March 30, including a higher number of women than men. University officials said they believed this was the first time more women than men were accepted, but said they had not checked each year’s figures back to 1969, when coeducation came to Princeton. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2021 — 6.1 percent of the record 31,056 applicants — is the lowest in the University’s history. The target size for the class is 1,308 students.
Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye said 18 more women than men were admitted, or 50.5 percent of the total. She said the female/male ratio for admitted students has been running close to 50/50 in recent years, and said “there was no intent this year other than to admit the very best class.” “Many of our peers crossed this line a number of years ago,” Rapelye noted.
Among those admitted, 53.4 percent self-identified as racial or ethnic minorities, 10.7 percent are legacies, 63.8 percent attend public schools, and 770 were admitted from the early-action pool. Rapelye said 18.9 percent will be the first in their families to attend college — a record for Princeton — and said “this shows our commitment to social mobility and socioeconomic diversity.”
International students representing 76 countries make up 12.1 percent of admitted students. Rapelye said the University will be watching for effects of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. “Will they be able to come? I am concerned about a chilling effect,” she said.
May 1 is the deadline to accept an offer of admission.