ACT Score Needed To Get Into Princeton 2026

Let's start with the hard numbers. Princeton's admitted students cluster at the very top of the ACT score range. For recent admitted classes, the middle 50% ACT composite range sits at approximately 34–35, with an average around 35.

Here's what this means in practical terms: if you score a 34, you're at roughly Princeton's 25th percentile for admitted students. A 35 puts you near the 75th percentile. Notice something important, the 75th percentile is 35, not 36. This means that fewer than one-quarter of Princeton admits who submit ACT scores achieve a perfect 36.

All three scores, 34, 35, and 36, place you in the 99th percentile nationally. At Princeton, you're not competing against average students. You're competing against other applicants who also scored in the top 1% of test-takers.

Between 2020 and 2024, Princeton operated under test-optional policies. However, this didn't dramatically change the score distribution among admits. Approximately 77% of enrolling freshmen for the Class of 2027 still submitted test scores, and those who did submit tended to be high scorers. For the Class of 2029, about 75% of admits who took the ACT scored 34 or higher.

This self-selection meant Princeton's score distributions remained exceptionally high even during test-optional years. Students with lower scores often chose not to submit them, while those with top-tier scores did. Starting with the 2027–28 admissions cycle, Princeton will again require SAT or ACT scores, so understanding these benchmarks becomes even more critical.

The Diminishing Returns of Chasing a Perfect Score

Here's where many families waste significant time and resources: pursuing marginal score improvements at the very top of the range.

The research is clear on this point. Once your ACT reaches approximately 34, additional points yield diminishing returns in admissions impact. A former Princeton admissions officer stated bluntly that she had "rarely heard any admissions officer say, 'the student with a 1600 was chosen over the student with a 1550 because of that score difference.'" The same principle applies to ACT scores.

Consider the mathematics of Princeton's admissions process. When Princeton's acceptance rate hovered around 10%, roughly half of all applicants with perfect scores were rejected. Today, with the acceptance rate at approximately 4%, even perfect scorers face extremely low admission probabilities. The difference between a 34 and a 36 might shift your chances by a few percentage points at most, and at such low overall odds, that difference is statistically insignificant.

Why does this happen? At Princeton's level of selectivity, standardized test scores function primarily as a threshold mechanism. They signal to admissions officers that you can handle the academic rigor of Princeton's curriculum. A 34 sends exactly the same signal as a 36: you're academically prepared. Once you've cleared that bar, admissions officers turn their attention to what actually distinguishes candidates, research experience, intellectual curiosity, meaningful impact in your community, compelling essays, and strong recommendations.

As one admissions consultant explains, "once you're above roughly 1520 SAT,” approximately equivalent to a 34 ACT, "additional points yield diminishing returns. The difference between a 1550 and a 1600 matters far less than most families assume." Multiple former Ivy League admissions readers confirm this assessment.

Should You Retake the ACT If You Have a 34 or 35?

The answer for most students is no. If you already have a 34 or 35, your testing is done. You've proven your academic capability. The hundreds of hours you might spend drilling practice tests to squeeze out one or two more points would generate far better returns if invested in strengthening other components of your application.

This doesn't mean a 36 is worthless, it's an impressive achievement. But it won't function as a trump card that overrides weaknesses elsewhere in your application, nor will it provide a meaningful advantage over applicants with 34 or 35 composites who have stronger extracurricular profiles.

Princeton's own admissions guidance emphasizes that grades and scores "do not by themselves provide a complete picture" of a candidate. The admissions committee explicitly notes there is "no cutoff" or single required score, and that standardized tests are only one part of a "multi-faceted review."

In our work with clients, we've seen this play out repeatedly. We've had students admitted with 34 composites who had exceptional research portfolios, and we've seen students with perfect 36s rejected because their applications lacked depth beyond academics. More valedictorians and perfect 36 scorers are denied admission to Princeton each year than are admitted.

Do ACT Subscores Matter at Princeton?

While the composite score is paramount, Princeton's admissions readers do examine section subscores, and these can provide context, especially when comparing similar candidates or evaluating fit for specific academic interests.

The data reveals interesting patterns in how Princeton admits perform across sections:

English and Reading: Princeton admits excel disproportionately in verbal sections. The middle 50% range for ACT English among admits is approximately 35–36, meaning the vast majority of admitted students earned near-perfect English scores. Reading scores show similar patterns, with medians often at 36. This likely reflects Princeton's rigorous curriculum and emphasis on writing across all disciplines, including STEM fields.

Math and Science: While still very high, these sections show slightly more variation. The middle 50% range for ACT Math in recent Princeton classes was approximately 32–35. The 25th percentile sits at 32 (compared to 35 for English), indicating that Princeton admits some students with Math scores in the low-30s, often humanities-focused applicants whose strengths lie elsewhere. Science subscores typically range from 33–36.

What does this pattern tell us? Princeton doesn't require perfection across all four sections, but they do expect students to be strong in areas relevant to their academic interests. As one former Princeton admissions officer noted, "The majority of admitted students have perfect scores on standardized tests in their field of study and near-perfect scores in other subjects."

If you're applying as a prospective engineer with a 35 composite but only a 30 in Math, that's a potential red flag. Conversely, a budding novelist or philosopher with a 35 composite achieved through perfect English and Reading scores, but with a 32 in Science, likely won't face scrutiny for that lower Science subscore.

For most applicants with composites in the 34+ range, subscores won't make or break your application unless there's a glaring mismatch between your subscores and your intended academic path. The composite tells the main story, and subscores provide context.

What Score Should You Target?

Based on the data and our experience working with successful Princeton applicants, here's our recommendation:

Minimum competitive score: 33. While you can occasionally find Princeton admits with lower scores, these typically involve recruited athletes or other special circumstances. For unhooked applicants, a 33 places you in the conversation.

Target score for strong positioning: 34. This matches Princeton's 25th percentile for admits and signals you're academically qualified. Once you hit 34, you've crossed the threshold where test scores cease to be a meaningful differentiator in most cases.

Optimal range: 34–36. Any score in this range places you in Princeton's core academic band. The difference between these scores is unlikely to affect your admissions outcome.

Avoid the perfection trap: If you have a 34 or 35, resist the urge to retake the test unless you genuinely believe you can improve and have already maximized other components of your application. Princeton won't choose between two otherwise equal applicants based on a 34 versus a 36.

What Actually Matters Beyond Your ACT Score

This is where our philosophy at Cosmic differs from generic college counseling. Princeton isn't looking for students who excel at standardized tests, they have thousands of those. They're looking for students who will contribute meaningfully to Princeton's intellectual community and go on to make an impact in their fields.

The students we've helped get into Princeton share certain characteristics beyond high test scores:

Genuine research experience: Not superficial "volunteering" in a lab, but actual engagement with open research questions. This might come through formal programs like RSI or ISEF, direct outreach to professors, or industry partnerships. Princeton faculty want students who can think like researchers.

Measurable community impact: Not generic club presidencies or NHS membership, but evidence of initiative that changed something tangible in your community. Princeton's admissions readers can distinguish between resume padding and authentic leadership.

Intellectual depth: Your essays should reveal someone who thinks deeply about ideas, connects concepts across disciplines, and pursues knowledge for its own sake. Princeton's residential college system and emphasis on undergraduate research means they're selecting for intellectual vitality, not just achievement.

Strong academic preparation: Beyond test scores, this means rigorous coursework (the hardest classes available to you), strong performance in subjects related to your intended major, and evidence of pushing beyond your school's curriculum when necessary.

We tell our clients: get your ACT to 34 if possible, then shift your focus entirely to building the components of your application that actually differentiate you. The students who earn admission aren't necessarily those with the highest scores, they're the ones whose full applications make the strongest case for their unique contribution to Princeton.

At Cosmic College Consulting, we help academically driven students build application strategies that go beyond test scores. If you're targeting Princeton or other highly selective schools, schedule a consultation with an admissions expert to discuss how we can help you present your strongest possible candidacy.