Princeton vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Princeton University in Princeton, NJ with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 9,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Princeton vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary ($15,313 vs. $19,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 20.1% lower than at Princeton University ($16,182 vs. $20,250).
• Princeton University is 141.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $36,774 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at Princeton than at William & Mary (about $11,650 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at William & Mary (67% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 197% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($68,727 vs. $23,144).

Princeton vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Princeton or William & Mary? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between William & Mary and Princeton.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 80 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Princeton students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 33 at William & Mary).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Princeton University 1510/1580; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Princeton University 34/35; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Princeton students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Princeton vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton and William & Mary? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than William & Mary's (91%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $45,200 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than William & Mary graduates ($7,500 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William & Mary graduates ($77 vs. $201).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.