Stanford vs. Harvard vs. Yale vs. Princeton

Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Stanford University
Harvard University
Yale University
Princeton University

At a glance

  • Lowest net price: Princeton ($15,313 a year). Next is Harvard at $17,525, about $2,212 more.
  • Hardest to get into: Stanford (3.6% admitted, typical SAT 1550). Harvard is close behind (3.6%, SAT 1550); Yale 3.9%, Princeton 4.6%.
  • Highest graduation rate: Harvard (97%). Then Yale 97%, Stanford 96%, Princeton 96%.
  • Highest median earnings: Harvard ($136,700 ten years after starting college). Then Stanford $122,900, Yale $118,400, Princeton $113,900.
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Key differences

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Measure Stanford Harvard Yale Princeton
Acceptance rateStanford most selective 3.6% 3.6% 3.9% 4.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)Stanford highest 1510-1580 1510-1580 1470-1570 1510-1580
Average net pricePrinceton lowest $25,078 $17,525 $22,408 $15,313
In-state tuitionHarvard lowest $65,910 $61,676 $67,250 $62,688
Out-of-state tuitionHarvard lowest $65,910 $61,676 $67,250 $62,688
Graduation rateHarvard highest 96% 97% 97% 96%
Median earnings (10 years)Harvard highest $122,900 $136,700 $118,400 $113,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Yale 57,517
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Yale 2,227
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance rate
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Stanford 1550
  • Harvard 1550
  • Yale 1520
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Stanford 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Yale 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Yale 3.95
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical high school grades
  • Stanford A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Yale A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions standards
  • Stanford Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Yale Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Stanford Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Yale Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Stanford 1510-1580
  • Harvard 1510-1580
  • Yale 1470-1570
  • Princeton 1510-1580
  • ACT range
  • Stanford 34-35
  • Harvard 34-36
  • Yale 33-35
  • Princeton 34-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Stanford Required
  • Harvard Required
  • Yale Required
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Yale $67,250
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Yale $67,250
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & board
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Yale $19,900
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average net price
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Yale $22,408
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average grant aid
  • Stanford $62,755
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Yale $65,892
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Stanford 61%
  • Harvard 56%
  • Yale 56%
  • Princeton 67%
  • Graduation rate
  • Stanford 96%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Yale 97%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Yale $118,400
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Stanford 88%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Yale 84%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Yale $13,500
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Stanford $128
  • Harvard $67
  • Yale $139
  • Princeton $77
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Yale 5:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular majors
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • Location
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Yale 15,564
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Stanford #3
  • Harvard #4
  • Yale #5
  • Princeton #1

Comparable Facts

Compare Stanford University in Stanford, CA, Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, Yale University in New Haven, CT, and Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

By total student enrollment, Harvard University is the largest of the four (30,259 students), followed by Stanford (18,625), Yale (15,564), and Princeton (9,137).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Settings: Stanford, CA (Large Suburban); Cambridge, MA (Midsize City); New Haven, CT (Midsize City); Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban).
  • Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stanford 6:1; Harvard 7:1; Yale 5:1; Princeton 5:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are lowest at Yale ($19,900) and highest at Stanford ($21,315); Harvard $21,190, Princeton $20,250.
  • The largest share of students receiving grant aid is at Princeton (67%), then Stanford (61%), Harvard (56%), and Yale (56%).
  • Average grant aid: Princeton $68,727; Harvard $68,015; Yale $65,892; Stanford $62,755.

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate): Harvard 35; Stanford 34; Yale 34; Princeton 34.
  • SAT or ACT scores are required at Stanford, Harvard, and Yale, test optional at Princeton.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027; Yale Jan 2, 2027.
  • Average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen: Harvard 4.0; Stanford 3.96; Yale 3.95; Princeton 3.93.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield): Harvard 83.6%; Stanford 81.9%; Princeton 75.5%; Yale 69.8%.

Loans and repayment

  • Median federal loan debt among borrowers: Harvard $6,500; Princeton $7,500; Stanford $12,475; Yale $13,500.
  • Median monthly federal loan payment: Harvard $67; Princeton $77; Stanford $128; Yale $139.
  • Share of former students actively paying back federal loans three years after graduation: Stanford 88%; Yale 84%; Princeton 83%; Harvard 70%.

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

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Stanford University
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