Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

Princeton University - Princeton, NJ

Area Guide

The best university in the country is also one of the oldest

Ivy League • Private • Colonial College • Prestigious • Historic • Walkable • Mass Transit • Tigers •

Consistently ranking as the best university in the country, Princeton University is a private, Ivy League institution that was founded in 1746. The faculty includes 26 Nobel Prize winners, and the graduates are equally impressive: two US Presidents, three Supreme Court Justices, 16 Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer-Prize winning novelists, and world-famous scientists and mathematicians. Famous alumni include President Woodrow Wilson, President James Madison, General David Petraeus, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Senator Ted Cruz, author F. Scott Fitzgerald, comic book artist Jim Lee, actress Brooke Shields, and actor Jimmy Stewart.

Princeton University is considered most selective, accepting just seven percent of applicants. The university has a 90 percent graduation rate and a student-faculty ratio of five to one. Princeton is a Colonial College, a group of nine universities established before the American Revolution. Popular programs at this prestigious research university include the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Situated on 600 acres in Princeton, New Jersey, the beautiful campus includes Nassau Hall, the oldest building on campus and a National Historic Landmark. Nassau Hall was built in 1754, and at the time was the largest building in the colonies. It suffered extensive damage during the Revolutionary War, especially during the 1777 Battle of Princeton. The Princeton Tigers -- along with Rutgers University -- have one of the nation's oldest football programs, first facing each other in 1869. Princeton is part of the Ivy League Conference and they play at Princeton Stadium.

Since most freshmen live on-campus, you shouldn't have much trouble finding an apartment near Princeton University. Look in the Princeton North neighborhood, especially along State Road and Ewing Street. Stockton Street is also a terrific option -- this street offers easy access to the Princeton University Art Museum and the Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University. Just across the river, Princeton Junction provides a great location just a few minutes away from campus.

Explore the College

The Colonial Club was established in 1891

Princeton University's historic architecture

Bicycles outside the Bendheim Center for Finance

Nassau Hall, the oldest building on campus, dates back to 1754

Rent Trends

As of January 2025, the average apartment rent in Princeton, NJ is $2,890 for a studio, $2,654 for one bedroom, $3,412 for two bedrooms, and $3,869 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Princeton has decreased by -0.5% in the past year.