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TCU Harvard Yale Baylor Penn Duke Cornell Brown UT Austin Columbia UT Dallas Stanford| Princeton University | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Princeton | SMU | ||
| Location | Princeton, NJ | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 8,842 | 12,053 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1 | #67 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | princeton.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Princeton | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $57,410 | $55,012 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $57,410 | $55,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,630 | $17,750 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,698 | $45,094 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $59,792 | $35,344 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 61% | 73% |
Admission |
Princeton | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 38,019 | 16,150 | ||
| Admitted | 2,167 | 8,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 5.7% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 69.2% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.93 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1580 | 1370/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Princeton | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Princeton | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 96% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $113,900 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $7,500 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $77 | $222 |
Diversity |
Princeton | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 45% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Princeton | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 16% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 58% | ||
Campus |
Princeton | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than Princeton based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 8,842 students)
Princeton vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Princeton or SMU?
- Princeton University is 4.4% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($57,410.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.4% higher at Princeton than Southern Methodist University ($57,410.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Princeton University than SMU ($18,698 vs. $45,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Methodist University are 5% lower than costs at Princeton University ($17,750 vs. $18,630)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Princeton University (73% vs. 61%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 69.2% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($59,792 vs. $35,344)
Princeton vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Princeton or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Princeton .
- The average SAT score at Princeton University (1490) is 160 points higher than at SMU (1330)
- Incoming Princeton students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at SMU (30)
- Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Princeton (5.7%)
Princeton vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Princeton or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and Princeton.
- The graduation rate at Princeton is higher than Southern Methodist University (96% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Princeton University earn on average $40,900 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($113,900 vs. $73,000)
- Princeton University students graduate with a $14,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($7,500 vs. $21,500)
- Princeton graduates are paying $145 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($77 vs. $222)
- More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/