🏠 Princeton University — Parent Guide

Helping parents understand dorm options, safety, accessibility, and what to expect at Princeton University.

💡 Tips for parents reviewing dorm options:

🏠 How housing selection works at Princeton University

Princeton organizes undergraduate housing aroundsixfor freshmen and sophomores, with upperclassmen choosing from a variety of housing options on campus.

Freshman & Sophomore Years:All first-year students are assigned to one of six — Butler, Forbes, Mathey, West, Rockefeller, or Whitman. Students are assigned by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. Each college has its own dining hall, common spaces, and Fellows (faculty who engage with students). Most students remain in their assigned college through sophomore year.

Upperclass Housing:Rising juniors and seniors enter the room draw for upperclass dormitories and special-interest houses. Options include traditional dormitories, four-person suites, and single rooms. A lottery assigns each student a pick time, with seniors generally drawing earlier than juniors.

Eating Clubs:Princeton's 11 eating clubs (located on Prospect Avenue) are not dormitories, but many upperclassmen choose to "bicker" (audition) or sign in to eating clubs for their dining and social life during junior and senior years. Club membership does not affect housing placement.

Special Interest Housing:Several upperclass options include language houses, identity-affirming spaces, and interest-based communities. Applications for these are typically due in the spring.

As of May 8, 2026

📍 Location

Princeton, NJ

🏛️ College Type

Private Research University

👥 Enrollment

8,626 total students

🏠 Housing

13 dorm buildings reviewed on DormScouter

📊 Dorm Comparison by Safety & Cleanliness

DormOverall ★Safety ★Cleanliness ★ReviewsFeatures
Blair Hall 0
Forbes Residential College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Graduate Housing — Graduate College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Butler College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Forbes College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Mathey College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Rockefeller College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Whitman College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
Yeh College 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
New College West 0 🍽️ Dining Hall
First College 0
Spelman Halls 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen
1901 Hall 0 🍳 Shared Kitchen

🔗 More Resources

🔗 Housing & Real Estate Services

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🔗 Residential Colleges

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🔗 Upperclass Housing

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🔗 Room Draw Information

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🎓 Class-Year Housing Guides

Year-specific advice for Princeton University dorms — what changes from freshman to senior year:

🎓 Freshman Guide📚 Sophomore Guide📖 Junior Guide🎉 Senior Guide

🔍 Filter by Amenity

Looking for something specific? Browse Princeton University dorms filtered by amenity:

❄️ with Air Conditioning🍳 with Shared Kitchen🛗 with Elevator♿ ADA-Accessible🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Friendly🚿 with Private Bathrooms🛁 with Semi-Private Bathrooms🧼 with Communal Bathrooms♀ All-Female