Amherst vs. Princeton

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Princeton University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Princeton University 5:1.

Amherst vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Princeton? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Princeton University than Amherst ($15,313 vs. $19,049).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 9.2% lower than at Princeton University ($18,390 vs. $20,250).
• Amherst College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $7,792 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Amherst than at Princeton University (about $7,792 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Amherst College (67% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Amherst College students ($68,727 vs. $68,591).

Amherst vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Princeton? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Princeton and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Amherst (1540).
• Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Princeton University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Princeton University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Amherst (3.91).
• Amherst has a higher acceptance rate (9%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Amherst vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Princeton? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• The graduation rate at Amherst is the same as at Princeton University (96% vs. 96%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $31,900 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $5,475 lower median loan debt than Amherst graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,975).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Amherst graduates ($77 vs. $134).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.