Duke vs. Princeton

Comparable Facts

Compare Duke University in Durham, NC with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Duke University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 9,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Princeton University is in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; Princeton University 5:1.

Duke vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke 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 Duke ($15,313 vs. $21,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 10.5% lower than at Princeton University ($18,128 vs. $20,250).
• Duke University is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $6,070 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at Duke than at Princeton University (about $6,070 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Duke University (67% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 4.9% larger than aid received by Duke University students ($68,727 vs. $65,522).

Duke vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke or Princeton? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Princeton and Duke.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Duke (1540).
• Incoming Duke students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Duke University 1500/1570; Princeton University 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Duke University 34/35; Princeton University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - Test optional; Princeton - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Duke students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Princeton (3.93).
• Duke has a higher acceptance rate (5.7%) than Princeton (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Duke vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke and Princeton? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Duke University's (94%).
• Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Duke graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $108,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University and Duke graduates have the same median loan debt ($7,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Princeton University and Duke graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($77 vs. $77).
• More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.