Princeton vs. Rice

Deciding between Princeton University and Rice 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.

Princeton University
Rice University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Princeton #1
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Princeton -
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Princeton
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Princeton $68,727
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Princeton 67%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Princeton 1550
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Princeton 34
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Princeton A
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Princeton Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Princeton Extreme
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Princeton 34/35
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Princeton 96%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Princeton 83%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Princeton $77
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Princeton 52%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • Princeton 48%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Princeton Very High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • Princeton No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • Princeton 45%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • Princeton 22%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • Princeton 8%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Princeton 9%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • Princeton 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Princeton 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Princeton 4%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • Princeton 11%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Princeton 2%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Princeton 14%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Princeton 74%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Princeton University in Princeton, NJ with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Princeton University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; Rice University 6:1.

Princeton vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or Rice? 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 Rice ($15,313 vs. $23,589).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 10.6% lower than at Princeton University ($18,100 vs. $20,250).
  • Rice University is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $1,456 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Rice than at Princeton University (about $1,456 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Rice University (67% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 22.3% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($68,727 vs. $56,199).

Princeton vs. Rice Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Rice (1540).
  • Incoming Princeton students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Rice (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 1510/1580; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Princeton (3.93).
  • Rice has a higher acceptance rate (8%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Princeton vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton and Rice? 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 Rice University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $27,500 more per year than Rice graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $86,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $2,727 lower median loan debt than Rice graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,227).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rice graduates ($77 vs. $105).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.