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Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$6,128What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
5%
Graduation rate
97%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
5,709
In-state tuition
$62,688Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$62,688
SAT midpoint
1,515
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$110,066Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$6,128

Better than 98% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

97%

Better than 100% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$110,066

Better than 99% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$10,320

Better than 98% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$84,040

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$6,128

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Princeton University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time97%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return98%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$10,320
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$110,066

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Princeton University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$146,624201
Economics$103,041132
Operations Research$100,35477
Mechanical Engineering$85,32845
Public Policy Analysis$73,630114
Political Science and Government$63,31757
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$53,03837
Research and Experimental Psychology$47,05050
History$45,36372
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$41,84852
English Language and Literature, General$35,17831
Sociology$32,91434
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$32,64726
MathematicsNot reported38
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported36
PhysicsNot reported34
Civil EngineeringNot reported30
AnthropologyNot reported30
ChemistryNot reported28
Chemical EngineeringNot reported23
PhilosophyNot reported23
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported20
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported15
Astronomy and AstrophysicsNot reported13
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported12
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported10
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported9
Area StudiesNot reported7
ArchitectureNot reported6
MusicNot reported6
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported5
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported4
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported3
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported2
Engineering, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Computer EngineeringNot reportedNot reported

All 37 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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