Amherst vs. Princeton

Amherst College and Princeton University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
Princeton University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Princeton (4.6% admitted vs 9%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1540.
  • Cheaper after aid: Princeton. Average net price is $15,313 vs $19,049 at Amherst.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs Princeton 96%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs Princeton $113,900 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College Princeton University
Acceptance rate
Princeton more selective
Amherst9%
Princeton4.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Princeton higher
Amherst1490-1580
Princeton1510-1580
Average net price
Princeton $3,736 less
Amherst$19,049
Princeton$15,313
In-state tuition
Princeton $7,792 less
Amherst$70,480
Princeton$62,688
Out-of-state tuition
Princeton $7,792 less
Amherst$70,480
Princeton$62,688
Graduation rate
Amherst +0 pts
Amherst96%
Princeton96%
Median earnings (10 years)
Princeton +$31,900
Amherst$82,000
Princeton$113,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • Princeton 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Princeton 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Princeton 67%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Princeton $77
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Princeton #1

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Princeton University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Princeton University 5:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 9.2% lower than at Princeton University ($18,390 vs. $20,250).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Amherst than at Princeton University (about $7,792 more per year; $70,480 vs. $62,688).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Amherst College (67% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Amherst College students ($68,727 vs. $68,591).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and Princeton.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Princeton average a 3.93 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at Amherst (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $5,475 lower median loan debt than Amherst graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,975).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Amherst graduates ($77 vs. $134).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 83%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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