Discover the Ivy League Charm: 13 Fascinating Fun Facts About Princeton University You Can't Miss

1. Triangle Club: The OG Musical Crew

Before Zac Efron danced his way into our hearts with “High School Musical” and well before Mr. Schuester taught a thing or two to the youngsters on “Glee,” there was another song-singing, dance-kicking crew that called the curtains in the 1800s: At Princeton University, the Triangle Club, initially dubbed the Princeton College Dramatic Association, was founded way back in 1883. This vintage theatrical gem holds the title of one of the oldest musical comedy organizations in the nation, delighting audiences for generations with their delectably satirical and chuckle-inducing musical productions.
Source => princeton.edu

2. Institute for Advanced Study: Science Oscars

When geniuses collide in the science version of the Oscars: The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton boasts a staggering legacy of thirty-five Nobel Prize laureates in physics, medicine, literature, chemistry, and economics, who have been Faculty, Members, or Long-term Visitors since its grand opening in 1930.
Source => ias.edu

Did you know Brown University's Ladd Observatory has been gazing at the stars since 1891? Discover how world-famous astronomer Harlow Shapley measured the Milky Way galaxy and how you can get starstruck with their public viewing sessions! 🌟✨

=> Fun Facts about Brown-University

3. F. Scott Fitzgerald: Math Flunk, Social Butterfly

They say math is a universal language, but F. Scott Fitzgerald must have been using Rosetta Stone: Despite attending prestigious Princeton University, the literary legend floundered in math, trigonometry, geometry, algebra, and chemistry, barely passing some courses and outright failing others. The silver lining? He kept his social calendar as full as a flapper's dance card, penning prose and composing tunes for clubs and publications like the Nassau Literary Magazine and Triangle Club musical performances.
Source => universityarchives.princeton.edu

4. Pumpkin Spice University: House of Nassau Colors

You might think Princeton University bleeds orange because they've been sipping too much pumpkin spice latté, but here's the juicy truth: their official colors of orange and black were chosen in 1867 to honor William III of the House of Nassau, known as the Prince of Orange, after whom Nassau Hall was named.
Source => princeton.edu

5. Star-Studded Princeton: Celebs on Campus

Princeton University: a breeding ground for intellectual heavyweights, classic literature connoisseurs, and the refined celebrities who don't mind trading their LA mansions for college dorms. Behold the fusion of brains and glamor: Woodrow Wilson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, David Petraeus, Dean Cain, and Brooke Shields have all walked its hallowed halls, with the latter two scoring their Bachelor's degrees amidst the boombox beat of the late 1980s.
Source => businessinsider.com

6. Hamlet's Princeton Graduation Odds

If Shakespeare's Hamlet had attended Princeton University, he might have declared, "To graduate, or not to graduate, that is the question – a 98% chance of success, me thinks": Princeton maintains an impressive 98% 6-year graduation rate, demonstrating their commitment to academic excellence, and even boasts a 96% graduation rate for students receiving Pell Grants. Who knew the Ivy League could have such a royally fantastic record?
Source => usnews.com

7. Tokamak Fusion: Plasma Physics Pioneers

Tokamak It, Tokamak It Real Good: Princeton University's Plasma Physics Laboratory has held the torch in controlled fusion research with their Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor, which once produced a staggering 10.7 million watts of fusion power, and continues to pioneer the field with advanced fusion devices like the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade.
Source => pppl.gov

8. Family Reunion Admissions: Legacy Exclusive

In a move reminiscent of a family reunion gone exclusive: Princeton University is now only admitting relatives of their alumni from the Class of 2026 onwards, leaving non-legacy applicants to explore other Ivy League forests.
Source => dailyprincetonian.com

9. Trivia Master Princeton: Nobel Prize Overload

If Princeton University were a person, it would be that one friend who somehow knows every trivia in the world and sweeps up the Nobel Prizes like a seasoned blackjack dealer: boasting a whopping 79 affiliated laureates, of which 44 struck gold in natural sciences and 27 coined it in economics. Oh, and let's not forget it's on a first-name basis with two U.S. Presidents – James Madison and Woodrow Wilson.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Princeton's Powerhouse Alumni: Presidents to Zuckerberg

From White House residents to social media royalty, Princeton University's got quite the roll call of honor: boasting alumni such as former US Presidents James Madison and Woodrow Wilson, Nobel laureates Toni Morrison and Angus Deaton, and none other than Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.
Source => dapsmagic.com

11. Peter Singer: Animal Advocate & Controversial Philosopher

What do animal rights, expanding circles, and controversial ideas have in common? They all walk into a bar called Princeton University: Home to our superstar Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, Peter Singer, whose game-changing book Animal Liberation in 1975 turned heads and sparked debates, leading to a string of influential works and prestigious honors up to the 2021 Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture. Not just a thinker, Singer also founded The Life You Can Save charity and co-edits the Journal of Controversial Ideas.
Source => uchv.princeton.edu

12. Tiger Mascot: Princeton's Prowling Pride

Before Hogwarts housed a roaring lion and a devious snake, Princeton had its own jungle on campus, and it was absolutely grrrrreat: Princeton University became the first school to adopt the tiger as its mascot in the early 1880s, with football players donning orange and black striped uniforms, inspiring the nickname "tigers." This majestic creature has since adorned everything from songs and cheers to campus buildings and sculptures, including a male and female tiger duo created in 1969 – the very same year the university welcomed its first-ever female undergraduates. To this day, an undergrad dressed in a tiger suit continues to prowl the sidelines, entertaining fans and keeping the stripes alive at football games, marking a tradition that traces its roots back to the post-World War II era.
Source => princetoniana.princeton.edu

13. Einstein's Basketball Strategy: The Princeton Offense

Whoever said basketball was strictly a tall man's game never met the brilliant strategists of Princeton University! If Einstein had designed basketball tactics, it might've looked something like the sleek, versatile, and mind-bending formation used by these Ivy Leaguers: The Princeton Offense, pioneered by legendary coach Pete Carril, emphasizes unselfish play, fluid ball movement, and constant motion. Not limited by standard positions, each player fills any role and the team's success hinges on reading the defense and making effective decisions, creating a near-impossible challenge for their opponents to defend against.
Source => basketballforcoaches.com