This Valentine’s Day season, love is in the air and the numbers. Though the legend says — depending on who you ask — that 50 or 75 or 90 percent of Princetonians find love during their time as undergraduates, The Daily Princetonian analyzed responses from the Frosh and Senior surveys about love, sex, and romance to distinguish fact from fiction.
Here’s what the numbers tell us about love in the Orange Bubble:
According to the Frosh Surveys for the Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028, an average of 69.8 percent of Princeton first-years are single upon starting their first semester of college. This number decreases to 46.2 percent for graduating seniors from the Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
These trends suggest that a significant part of the undergraduate student body enters a relationship during their four years at Princeton.
However, it’s not all sunshine and orange-hued rainbows — in the 2024 Senior Survey, 2.4 percent of the surveyed seniors reported cheating on a partner. Another challenge for underclass students is navigating elements of hook-up culture at Princeton. Only 27 percent of first-years have had sex before coming to Princeton.
In fact, according to the 2028 Frosh Survey, only 55 percent of this year’s incoming first-years had had their first kiss before they arrived on campus this Fall.
However, by senior year, this significantly changes, as, on average, 74 percent of outgoing seniors are no longer virgins.
If you haven’t found your match yet, you are not alone and might be part of the 46.2 percent of Princeton seniors who leave the Commencement ceremony single.
Additionally, while more than half of the surveyed seniors in relationships met at Princeton, the majority of the married seniors met their spouse outside of the Orange Bubble.
Then where does the 70 percent figure come from? Alumni often testify to reconnecting with former classmates long after graduation.
Another way that Princetonians meet on campus is through the Marriage Pact. The question-based algorithm matches students based on their compatibility, and though the Marriage Pact code remains mysterious, its creators claim that their methods are “research-backed.” During Valentine’s Day in 2024, 2,000 people signed up for the Marriage Pact and 1,500 for Datamatch, hoping to find “the one.”
So, if love hasn’t found you yet, who knows when it might come? The numbers say it could be just around the corner.
Iman Monfopa Kone is a staff Data writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Across the Track: men dominate Penn Classic, women’s records at Penn State National
Luke StocklessAt the Penn Classic and the Penn State National Open, both No. 1 Men’s Track and No. 1 Women’s Track dominated their competitions.
At the Penn Classic and the Penn State National Open, both No. 1 Men’s Track and No. 1 Women’s Track dominated their competitions.
‘Our Marriage Comedy Act’: Q&A with Professors Deborah and Frank Popper
Valentina MorenoIn the spirit of Valentine’s Day, The Daily Princetonian sat down with Deborah and Frank Popper, two visiting faculty professors in the University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Married for 58 years, the couple unpacked their story of love, research, and co-teaching.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, The Daily Princetonian sat down with Deborah and Frank Popper, two visiting faculty professors in the University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Married for 58 years, the couple unpacked their story of love, research, and co-teaching.
U. submits declaration supporting lawsuit against NIH research funding order
Doug SchwartzPrinceton’s provost, Jennifer Rexford ’91, submitted a declaration supporting a lawsuit against the National Institute of Health. The lawsuit concerns a Feb. 7 directive slashing a cap on overhead costs.
Princeton’s provost, Jennifer Rexford ’91, submitted a declaration supporting a lawsuit against the National Institute of Health. The lawsuit concerns a Feb. 9 directive slashing a cap on overhead costs.
