Yale vs. Princeton

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
Princeton University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Princeton #1
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Princeton -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Princeton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Princeton 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Princeton $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Princeton 52%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Princeton Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Princeton No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Princeton 45%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Princeton 22%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Princeton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Princeton 9%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Princeton 4%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Princeton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Princeton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Princeton 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Princeton 74%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Princeton University 5:1.

Yale vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale ($15,313 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 1.7% lower than at Princeton University ($19,900 vs. $20,250).
  • Yale University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $4,562 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Yale than at Princeton University (about $4,562 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Yale University (67% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Yale University students ($68,727 vs. $65,892).

Yale vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Princeton (3.93).
  • Princeton has a higher acceptance rate (4.6%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Yale vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Princeton University's (96%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Princeton graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $113,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Yale graduates ($7,500 vs. $13,500).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Yale graduates ($77 vs. $139).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.