Princeton vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Princeton University in Princeton, NJ with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Princeton vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton or RIT ? 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 RIT ($15,313 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 20.3% lower than at Princeton University ($16,142 vs. $20,250).
• Princeton University is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $3,414 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Princeton than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $3,414 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Princeton University (98% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 95.9% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($68,727 vs. $35,077).

Princeton vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 170 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming Princeton students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at RIT ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 1510/1580; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at RIT (3.7).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Princeton vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $49,000 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($7,500 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($77 vs. $289).
• More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

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.