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United States Closing soon Closes 1 November 2026

Princeton Financial Aid for International Students

Princeton is one of a tiny handful of US universities that is both need-blind for international undergraduate applicants AND meets 100% of demonstrated financial need with grants (no loans). For Sri Lankan applicants who are admitted, this typically means total annual aid in the USD 70,000–85,000+ range covering tuition, room, board, and fees — leaving the family with a calculated parental contribution (often zero or near-zero for middle-income SL families).

2027/28 admissions are open. Single-Choice Early Action closes 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision closes 1 January 2027. Princeton's aid is need-based and admission is need-blind for international applicants — there is no separate scholarship form.

Princeton University

University-funded

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Value

100% Demonstrated Need (Grant Only)

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Duration

4-Year Undergraduate Degree

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Admission

Need-Blind for All Applicants

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Princeton University — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

100% Demonstrated Need — Grant-Based (No Loans). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Admission to Princeton

You must be admitted to Princeton's undergraduate programme. Admission is highly competitive — Princeton's overall acceptance rate is around 4%, and international applicants face similar or slightly stronger competition.

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International Citizenship

Open to all international undergraduate applicants — Princeton is need-blind for international students, meaning your ability to pay does not factor into the admissions decision.

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Demonstrated Financial Need

Aid is awarded based on a detailed analysis of your family's financial circumstances using the CSS Profile, Princeton's own International Student Application, and supporting tax/income documents.

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Outstanding Academic Profile

Top A/L results (typically 3 A grades), strong extracurriculars, leadership, and a compelling personal narrative. SAT or ACT remains test-optional for most international applicants — check the current cycle's requirements.

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Apply via Common App / Coalition App

Princeton accepts the Common Application, Coalition Application with Scoir, or QuestBridge Application. Submit by Single-Choice Early Action (1 November) or Regular Decision (1 January) deadline.

Submit Financial Aid Application

Complete the CSS Profile (College Board) and Princeton's International Student Application via the Princeton Financial Aid portal. Submit by the same deadline as your admissions application.

Provide Supporting Documents

Family income statements, tax documents (or local equivalents), bank statements, and an explanatory letter for unusual circumstances. Documents not in English need certified translations.

Receive Admission + Aid Offer Together

Princeton admission decisions are released in mid-December (early action) or late March (regular decision). Your financial aid award letter is issued with the admission letter — there is no separate scholarship form.

Why Princeton?

Princeton is consistently ranked among the top 5 US national universities by US News, with one of the smallest student-to-faculty ratios in the Ivy League. Strong endowment funds the most generous need-based aid programme in US higher education. Sri Lankan applicants admitted to Princeton typically pay close to zero from their own funds.

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US News National Universities 2026

~4%

Overall Admit Rate

100%

Demonstrated Need Met

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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