Students who receive need-based aid from Princeton and wish to purchase a personal computer for their school use may request a computer purchase budget adjustment, not to exceed $3,500. The Undergraduate Financial Aid Office will add the purchase price of the computer to your financial aid budget, for which you may request a federal, alternative, or institutional loan to cover the cost. Computer purchase budget adjustments for the purchase price of a personal computer and accessories may only be requested during one year of your time at Princeton. Multiple requests may be submitted during that academic year until you have met the $3,500 limit.

For the 2026-27 academic year, incoming first year or transfer students may request reimbursement for purchases made from May 1, 2026, through May 13, 2027. Currently enrolled students may request reimbursement for purchases made over the summer and during the academic year between May 15, 2026 and May 13, 2027.

Requesting Reimbursement

To request reimbursement, you have the following options:

  • If Princeton grant was reduced to accommodate an outside/third-party scholarship, purchase receipts can be emailed to the financial aid office at faoffice@princeton.edu in order to have the reduced grant funds applied to the purchase. Note: This option is only available for the year in which outside/third-party scholarships were received. If the Princeton grant was fully replaced by outside/third-party scholarships, the student may not be eligible to receive grant aid for the educational technology purchase. Contact our office if you have questions about eligibility.
  • If the reduced Princeton grant does not cover the purchase, you can request a loan to cover the difference. Students have the option of requesting a federal loan (if eligible), Princeton Subsidized loan, or an alternative loan. Please review the Financing Options for more information about student loans. You should email purchase receipts to the Financial Aid Office along with your loan request form. The combination of reduced Princeton grant and loan cannot exceed $3,500. For alternative loans, students should apply directly with their chosen lender.
  • If Princeton grant was not reduced to accommodate an outside/third-party scholarship, you can request a loan. Students have the option of requesting a federal loan (if eligible), Princeton Subsidized loan, or an alternative loan. You should email purchase receipts to the Financial Aid Office along with your loan request form. For alternative loans, students should apply directly with their chosen lender.

Students who previously received grant aid reimbursement towards a computer purchase have the option of requesting a loan in the event their laptop or desktop is broken and cannot be repaired. This second request can only be made once during your time enrolled at the University. The Frist Tech Clinic is also available to students in need of computer consulting services from software diagnostics to hardware support. The Frist Tech Clinic is located in 112 Frist Campus Center.

If you are enrolled for the 2026-27 academic year, requests for reimbursement, along with supporting documentation, can be submitted from August 1, 2026, to May 13, 2027. Requests received after May 13th are ineligible for reimbursement. If the reimbursement results in a credit on your student account, consistent with Undergraduate Student Accounts policy, the refund will be available after the start of classes.

If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances resulting in an inability to purchase a computer before requesting reimbursement you may email the financial aid office to request an accommodation via faoffice@princeton.edu.


Note: In cases where grant aid and/or loan was used to fund/reimburse a computer purchase, the aid will be reversed if the Undergraduate Financial Aid office does not receive the payment from a donor for an outside scholarship, or if loan documents are outstanding. This may result in a balance due to the Student Account Office.

 

Educational technology permitted under this policy

You may purchase exactly one of each of the following items: 

  • Laptop Computer and Case (and optional extended warranty)
  • Desktop Computer (and optional extended warranty)
  • Tablet Computer and Case (and optional extended warranty)
  • External Hard Drive
  • External Monitor
  • Keyboard and Mouse
  • Earphones or Headphones
  • Printer/Scanner
  • USB cable
  • Stylus pen
  • Screen Protector (Laptop/Tablet)
  • Digital Paper Tablet