Updated: Monday, December 1, 2025
As a member of the Ivy League and an institution known for its academic rigor and impressive alumni network, Princeton University earns a spot on many students’ best-fit lists. Every year, the school receives tens of thousands of applications from high school seniors and current college students interested in transferring.
Many similarities exist between the first-year application process and the transfer admissions process, but there are several key differentiators that are important to understand — especially if you want to know how to transfer to an Ivy League school.
Getting into a highly selective university like Princeton is a multi-step process that requires plenty of hard work, research, and self-reflection. Learning more about how to get into Princeton can ensure you submit the strongest application possible.
The first step is making sure you have all the materials that will be required during the admissions process. To be considered for transfer admission at Princeton University, you must submit:
Don’t wait until the last minute to compile these materials, even if you’re busy with your current coursework. Some application elements, such as the Princeton essays, take time to write, edit, and finalize, so get started on your application months before the deadline.
In addition to gathering the required materials, transfer students need to make sure they meet Princeton’s eligibility requirements. Students who have acquired one or two full years of college credits may apply as transfer candidates for Princeton’s incoming sophomore or junior class — transfers into the senior class are not considered. The eligibility of certain credits to transfer into the Princeton curriculum is determined by the faculty and college deans.
As you might expect, gaining a seat at Princeton University as a transfer student is highly competitive. In fact, the actual acceptance rate for transfer applicants is considerably lower than it is for first-year students.
According to the fall 2024 admissions data, the university admitted only 38 transfer students after receiving 1,985 applications, which lent to an acceptance rate of 1.91%. To compare, Princeton University’s acceptance rate for first-year applicants in that same year was 4.62%.
Another difference between Princeton University transfers and first-year admissions is the timeline. While high school students need to submit their applications in the fall or early winter, the timeline is different for transfer students.
The transfer application for Princeton becomes available in the fall, and the application materials are all due on March 1, 2026. Additional deadlines include:
Since the application deadlines are pushed back for Princeton University transfer students, it’s only logical that the decision dates will also be several months behind the timeline for first-year applicants. Students are notified of their admissions outcomes by mid-May and must reply to this decision by late May to secure a seat in the upcoming class.
As the competitive acceptance rates indicate, transfer applicants are not more likely to get into Princeton than first-year applicants. In fact, the admissions rate for transfer students is significantly more selective than it is for those who are applying straight out of high school.
Each year, Princeton University only selects a small handful of transfer applicants for admission into their upcoming class — but that doesn’t mean that you should give up hope of gaining a seat. Learning how college transfer applications are evaluated can help keep your expectations in check and encourage you to give your application your absolute all. It’s crucial to keep track of all the dates and deadlines associated with the transfer admissions process and make sure that you include every application component they request.
It’s important to keep in mind that Princeton is a reach school for everyone — this is true whether you’re applying as a first-year or transfer student. However, there are things you can do to give a boost to your application and maximize your chances of success.
It’s crucial to write thoughtful, intelligent, and compelling responses to the Princeton transfer essay questions. Like the essays you wrote when you applied as a first-year student, your transfer essays should reflect your unique voice and show the admissions committee who you are and how you will contribute to the campus community.
Applicants must write two essays.
Additionally, you are asked to respond to five short-answer questions.
Before completing these supplemental questions, students should take some time to reflect on what motivated their transfer application to begin with. Come back to your why and think about what Princeton can offer you that other colleges might not be able to and how these experiences will play into your long-term ambitions and career goals.
It’s not enough to transfer simply because you’re looking for a change of scenery or hoping to have a prestigious name on your resume — to boost your admissions odds, you must be able to clearly articulate why you deserve a spot in the upcoming class and how you will utilize your Princeton education in the future. This is where ample research, self-reflection, and careful editing will come into play.
Of course, in addition to thoughtful supplement responses and essays, your grades need to measure up to Princeton’s high standards. Princeton students are generally at the top of their class, so you should strive to maintain as close to a 4.0 GPA as possible and demonstrate that you can successfully handle a rigorous curriculum.
If you’re submitting SAT or ACT scores, it’s important to know Princeton’s test score data. While they do not release the test scores for transfer admits, they do publish data on the test scores for first-year students who enrolled. For fall 2024, the middle 50% had a score range of 1500-1560 on the SAT and 34-35 on the ACT.
Don’t let the competitive admissions and low acceptance rate discourage you from applying as a Princeton University transfer. Instead, commit yourself to showcasing everything you have to offer and compiling an application that genuinely makes you proud.
If you’re just beginning to explore the idea of switching schools and looking for more guidance, our team of expert college admissions counselors can guide you through every step of transfer admissions and help you make the most of your academic journey.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated from its original August 2022 publication date to reflect the latest information on Princeton transfer admissions.
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