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The real 4-year cost of Princeton University in New Jersey
Over the 18 years from 2008 to 2026, published tuition and required fees at Princeton University went from $34,290 to $68,454, an average of 4.2% a year. The 2026–27 figure is the school's own announced rate.
2026–27 rate announced: $68,454Tuition $68,140 + activities fee/class dues $314.source
Read with care: this school's history shows a tuition drop or reset, so a smooth projection may not hold.
2008–2030: history and projection
| Year | Published | Projected estimate | Estimate range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $34,290 | – | – |
| 2009 | $35,340 | – | – |
| 2010 | $36,640 | – | – |
| 2011 | $37,865 | – | – |
| 2012 | $39,537 | – | – |
| 2013 | $40,170 | – | – |
| 2014 | $41,820 | – | – |
| 2015 | $43,450 | – | – |
| 2016 | $45,300 | – | – |
| 2017 | $47,140 | – | – |
| 2018 | $50,340 | – | – |
| 2019 | $52,800 | – | – |
| 2020 | $48,502 | – | – |
| 2021 | $56,010 | – | – |
| 2022 | $57,410 | – | – |
| 2023 | $59,710 | – | – |
| 2026 | $68,454 | $68,454 | – |
| 2027 | – | $71,342 | $68,389–$74,295 |
| 2028 | – | $74,352 | $68,324–$80,634 |
| 2029 | – | $77,489 | $68,260–$87,515 |
| 2030 | – | $80,758 | $68,195–$94,982 |
If you pay full sticker
Projected tuition + fees, entering fall 2026.
| Year 1 | $68,454 |
| Year 2 | $71,342 |
| Year 3 | $74,352 |
| Year 4 | $77,489 |
| 4-year total | $291,637 |
Two aid scenarios
4-year out-of-pocket total.
- $10,000/yr flat scholarship
- $251,637
- Flat aid doesn't grow, so it covers less each year.
- 50%-of-tuition scholarship
- $145,818
- Percentage aid keeps pace with tuition.
On-campus housing & meals
Room & board (housing plus the standard meal plan), on top of tuition.
- Announced 2026–27
- $22,120/ yr
- rising 4.1% / yr
- Projected 4-year add-on
- $94,125
School’s own published rateHousing $13,010 + food $9,110.source
Books & supplies typically add ~$1,200 a year (national median, not included).
Run your own numbers
Enter your actual scholarship offer to see your real 4-year total.
See my 4-year cost at Princeton University4-year schools with similar prices in New Jersey
Closest to Princeton University by published tuition and fees. Similar sticker prices can still compound very differently.
- Stevens Institute of Technology$68,230
- Seton Hall University$51,370
- Drew University$45,360
- Monmouth University$44,850
- Saint Peter's University$41,054
- Caldwell University$39,452
- Rider University$38,900
- Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus$38,506
Use this data
Published figures for Princeton University from federal IPEDS data through 2023, free to download or embed with attribution. The embed stays current as the data updates.