Free Ride At Princeton? Millions Of U.S. Families Now Qualify

Princeton University is dramatically expanding its financial aid program — slashing costs for thousands of families.

Starting this fall, students from U.S. households earning $150,000 or less will pay nothing to attend Princeton — with aid covering the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, meals, books, and personal expenses. Families earning up to $250,000 will pay no tuition at all.

The university also announced that “many families” earning up to and even beyond $350,000 will qualify for grants, especially those with multiple children in college. Previously, the cutoff for full aid was $100,000.

This expansion comes just months after the Trump administration suspended dozens of Princeton research grants in April.

In 2025–26, the average aid package for undergraduates will exceed $80,000, and about two-thirds of students are expected to receive some form of aid. Provost Jennifer Rexford called it Princeton’s “largest-ever investment in making the transformative experience of a Princeton education more affordable.”

Nearly 70% of the aid budget is funded through the school’s endowment and alumni donations. In the incoming Class of 2029, 25% are Pell Grant–eligible lower-income students — up from 21.7% last year and the highest share in Princeton’s history.