Princton vs Yale University

Princeton University and Yale University, two of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the world, share a long history of academic excellence and a commitment to fostering intellectual growth. However, there are also some key differences between the two schools that prospective students should consider when making their college decision. These differences range from acceptance rates and popular majors to student body demographics and graduation rates. To help you make an informed choice, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that highlights the key differences between Princeton and Yale. Explore the table to discover which university better aligns with your academic goals, personal preferences, and future aspirations.
Princeton University logo

Princeton University

Yale University logo

Yale University

Overview

Location Princeton, New Jersey New Haven, Connecticut
Campus setting City: Small City: Midsize
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% 98.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.4% 5.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $105
SAT range 1460 - 1570 1480 - 1580
ACT range 33 - 35 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 56.0% 54.0%
Students submitting ACT score 35.0% 35.0%
Total number of applicants 37,601 47,240
Total number of admissions given out 1,647 2,509
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,290 1,786
Yield rate 78.3% 71.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $78,490 $82,170
Average net price $20,908 $20,605
Tuition $56,010 $59,950
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $10,690

Meal plan: $7,490
Room/dormitory: $10,100

Meal plan: $7,700
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

65.0%
Average amount $47,136
58.0%
Average amount $58,715
Students receiving federal student loan 2.0%
Average amount $5,278
5.0%
Average amount $4,879
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $8,938
0.0%
Average amount $5,094

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,321
Men 50.3% Women 49.7%
6,536
Men 48.6% Women 51.4%
Graduate students 3,157
Men 58.3% Women 41.7%
8,031
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 82.6% 93.6%
International students 22.8% 21.6%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 5,151 5,576
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 California New York Connecticut Texas New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Physical Science
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 5:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 97.6% 96.9%
Dropout rate 1.9% 2.5%
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
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,998
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $168,803
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,882
  • Year 2: $147,858
  • Year 3: $167,455
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,705
  • Year 2: $132,032
  • Year 3: $165,012
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $132,023
  • Year 2: $132,866
  • Year 3: $142,164
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,929
  • Year 2: $111,017
  • Year 3: $117,291
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,157
  • Year 2: $98,213
  • Year 3: $112,141
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,985
  • Year 2: $95,473
  • Year 3: $95,527
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,166
  • Year 2: $86,621
  • Year 3: $91,001
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,834
  • Year 2: $63,625
  • Year 3: $73,597
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,489
  • Year 2: $58,522
  • Year 3: $72,034

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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