UConn vs. Princeton

Deciding between University of Connecticut and Princeton 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.

University of Connecticut
Princeton University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Princeton #1
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • Princeton -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • Princeton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Princeton 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Princeton 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • Princeton Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • Princeton 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • Princeton $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • Princeton 52%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • Princeton Very High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • Princeton No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • Princeton 45%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • Princeton 22%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • Princeton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • Princeton 9%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • Princeton 4%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • Princeton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • Princeton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • Princeton 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • Princeton 74%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Connecticut is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (28,306 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; Princeton University 5:1.

UConn vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn or Princeton? 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 UConn ($15,313 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 29% lower than at Princeton University ($14,380 vs. $20,250).
  • Princeton University is 197.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $41,644 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.4% higher at Princeton than at University of Connecticut (about $18,976 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Princeton University (81% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 316.5% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($68,727 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 220 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

UConn vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn and Princeton? 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 University of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $51,900 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($7,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($77 vs. $222).
  • More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 78%)

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.