UMass vs. Princeton

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 9,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UMass vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 UMass ($15,313 vs. $22,948).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 17.5% lower than at Princeton University ($16,710 vs. $20,250).
• Princeton University is 252.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $44,916 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $17,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55% higher at Princeton than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $22,239 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $40,449.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Princeton University (81% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 424.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($68,727 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass or Princeton? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Princeton and UMass.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 140 points higher than at UMass (1410).
• Incoming Princeton students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UMass).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Princeton University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Princeton University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UMass students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Princeton (3.93).
• UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

UMass vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Princeton? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $58,700 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $16,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($7,500 vs. $24,000).
• Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $171 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($77 vs. $248).
• More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.