Free Ride at Princeton? Millions of U.s. Families Now Qualify
What happened
Where it happened
- Princeton, Mercer County.
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.
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