MHC vs. Princeton

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College and Princeton University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mount Holyoke College
Princeton University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Princeton #1
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Princeton -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Princeton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Princeton 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Princeton 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Princeton Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Princeton $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Princeton 52%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Princeton Very High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Princeton No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Princeton 45%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Princeton 22%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Princeton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Princeton 9%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Princeton 4%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Princeton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Princeton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Princeton 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Princeton 74%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MHC Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MHC No
  • Princeton Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • MHC Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MHC No
  • Princeton No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MHC No
  • Princeton No

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, 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 MHC based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Princeton University 5:1.

MHC vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 MHC ($15,313 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 2.8% lower than at Princeton University ($19,684 vs. $20,250).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $4,330 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at MHC than at Princeton University (about $4,330 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Princeton University (77% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 31.1% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($68,727 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 90 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

MHC vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $63,900 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $13,706 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($7,500 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $142 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($77 vs. $219).
  • More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 77%)

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.