Princton vs Vanderbilt

Princeton University and Vanderbilt University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Princeton, an Ivy League university located in New Jersey, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 5.8%. Vanderbilt, a private research university in Tennessee, is known for its strong academics and vibrant campus life, with an acceptance rate of 10.3%. While both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, Princeton is renowned for its strengths in the humanities and social sciences, while Vanderbilt excels in engineering, music, and the natural sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences in student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, helping you make an informed decision about which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Princeton University logo

Princeton University

Vanderbilt University logo

Vanderbilt University

Overview

Location Princeton, New Jersey Nashville, Tennessee
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 97.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.4% 7.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $95
SAT range 1460 - 1570 1480 - 1570
ACT range 33 - 35 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 56.0% 25.0%
Students submitting ACT score 35.0% 32.0%
Total number of applicants 37,601 47,152
Total number of admissions given out 1,647 3,368
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,290 1,626
Yield rate 78.3% 48.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $78,490 $79,538
Average net price $20,908 $27,553
Tuition $56,010 $54,840
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,690

Meal plan: $7,490
Room/dormitory: $12,000

Meal plan: $6,376
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

65.0%
Average amount $47,136
64.0%
Average amount $49,730
Students receiving federal student loan 2.0%
Average amount $5,278
10.0%
Average amount $4,979
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $8,938
2.0%
Average amount $27,798

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,321
Men 50.3% Women 49.7%
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1%
Graduate students 3,157
Men 58.3% Women 41.7%
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 82.6% 89.5%
International students 22.8% 11.7%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 5,151 5,598
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New Jersey California New York Pennsylvania Texas Tennessee California New York Florida Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Physical Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 5:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 97.6% 93.4%
Dropout rate 1.9% 6.4%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,809
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $181,687
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,130
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $85,666
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,831
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $66,134
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,473
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,463
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,879
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,447
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,198
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,041
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $169,145
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $129,825
  • Year 2: $130,517
  • Year 3: $144,008
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $131,102
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $133,025
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $128,494
  • Year 2: $127,087
  • Year 3: $132,454
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $132,293
  • Year 2: $114,324
  • Year 3: $130,516
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,764
  • Year 2: $111,620
  • Year 3: $121,754
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,876
  • Year 2: $119,805
  • Year 3: $112,193
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,224
  • Year 2: $104,192
  • Year 3: $108,525
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,979
  • Year 2: $93,249
  • Year 3: $101,010
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,609
  • Year 2: $80,309
  • Year 3: $95,754

Compare Similar Colleges

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