Princeton vs. Barnard

Comparable Facts

Compare Princeton University in Princeton, NJ with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Princeton University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Princeton vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($15,313 vs. $26,407).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Princeton University are 6.7% lower than at Barnard College ($20,250 vs. $21,714).
• Barnard College is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $7,200 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Barnard than at Princeton University (about $7,200 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Barnard College (67% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($68,727 vs. $63,131).

Princeton vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Princeton or Barnard? 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 Barnard and Princeton.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
• Incoming Princeton students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 1510/1580; Barnard College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35; Barnard College 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Barnard (3.85).
• Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Princeton vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton and Barnard? 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 Barnard College's (92%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $47,000 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $10,347 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($7,500 vs. $17,847).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($77 vs. $184).
• More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.