Princeton vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Princeton vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than Princeton ($4,431 vs. $15,313).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 41.6% lower than at Princeton University ($11,832 vs. $20,250).
• Princeton University is 749.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $55,306 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 308.9% higher at Princeton than at CUNY Hunter College (about $47,356 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Princeton University (87% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 604.5% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($68,727 vs. $9,755).

Princeton vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 290 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 1510/1580; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Hunter (3.7).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Princeton vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton and Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $65,100 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $4,048 lower median loan debt than Hunter graduates ($7,500 vs. $11,548).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hunter graduates ($77 vs. $119).
• More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 56%)

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.