AU vs. Princeton

Deciding between American 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.

American University
Princeton University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Princeton #1
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Princeton -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Princeton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Princeton 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Princeton 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Princeton Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Princeton 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Princeton $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Princeton 52%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Princeton Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Princeton No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Princeton 45%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Princeton 22%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Princeton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Princeton 9%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Princeton 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Princeton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Princeton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Princeton 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Princeton 74%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Princeton University 5:1.

AU vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU 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 AU ($15,313 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 11.2% lower than at Princeton University ($17,982 vs. $20,250).
  • Princeton University is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $3,917 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Princeton than at American University (about $3,917 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at American University as at Princeton University (67% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 89.1% larger than aid received by American University students ($68,727 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU 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 AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 180 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

AU vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU 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).

  • Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $49,100 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $16,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($7,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $173 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($77 vs. $250).
  • More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.