Princeton vs. F&M

Deciding between Princeton University and Franklin and Marshall College? 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.

Princeton University
Franklin and Marshall College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Princeton 9,137
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Princeton #1
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Princeton -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Princeton
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Princeton $20,250
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Princeton $15,313
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Princeton $68,727
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Princeton 67%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Princeton 40,468
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Princeton 1,868
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Princeton 1550
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Princeton 34
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Princeton 3.93
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Princeton A
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Princeton Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Princeton Extreme
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Princeton 34/35
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Princeton Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Princeton 5:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Princeton 96%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Princeton $113,900
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Princeton 83%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Princeton $7,500
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Princeton $77
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Princeton 52%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Princeton 48%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Princeton Very High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Princeton No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Princeton 45%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Princeton 22%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Princeton 8%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Princeton 9%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Princeton 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Princeton 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Princeton 4%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Princeton 11%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Princeton 2%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Princeton 14%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Princeton 74%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Princeton University in Princeton, NJ with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Princeton University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Princeton vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or F&M? 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 F&M ($15,313 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 20.1% lower than at Princeton University ($16,188 vs. $20,250).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $8,106 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.9% higher at F&M than at Princeton University (about $8,106 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Princeton University (80% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 64% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($68,727 vs. $41,901).

Princeton vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Princeton or F&M? 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 F&M and Princeton.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 160 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 1510/1580; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Princeton vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton and F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $52,000 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $14,500 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($7,500 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($77 vs. $227).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.