Stanford vs. Princeton vs. Johns Hopkins vs. Johns Hopkins

Should I go to Stanford University or Princeton University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Stanford or Princeton is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Stanford University vs. Princeton University vs. Johns Hopkins University vs. Johns Hopkins University comparison
Stanford University Princeton University Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University
Stanford University Princeton University Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University
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Overview

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
Location Stanford, CA Princeton, NJ Baltimore, MD Baltimore, MD
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban Large City Large City
Enrollment 18,446 8,922 30,362 30,362
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #2 #1 #10 #10
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit
Website stanford.edu princeton.edu jhu.edu jhu.edu
Team Colors                                        

Costs

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
Tuition (In State) $61,731 $59,710 $62,840 $62,840
Tuition (Out of State) $61,731 $59,710 $62,840 $62,840
Room & Board $19,922 $19,380 $19,910 $19,910
Avg Net Price $17,998 $19,811 $22,844 $22,844
Avg Grant Aid $64,164 $60,629 $58,456 $58,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 60% 60% 60%

Admission

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
Applied 53,733 39,644 38,926 38,926
Admitted 2,099 1,782 2,943 2,943
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 4.5% 7.6% 7.6%
Enrolled % 80.9% 76.7% 48.2% 48.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.96 3.93 3.92 3.92
Typical High School Grades A- A- A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 34/35 34/35 34/35 34/35
SAT Range 1510/1580 1500/1580 1530/1580 1530/1580
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 2, 2026 Jan 1, 2026 Jan 3, 2026 Jan 3, 2026

Academics

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 5:1 6:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • History (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Mathematics (4%)
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Mathematics (4%)

Outcomes

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
Graduation Rate 96% 96% 91% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $122,900 $113,900 $85,800 $85,800
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 83% 81% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,475 $7,500 $15,000 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $128 $77 $155 $155

Diversity

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
% Men 31% 21% 38% 38%
% Women 25% 16% 41% 41%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High Very High Very High
HBCU No No No No
% White 37% 45% 41% 41%
% Black 6% 8% 6% 6%
% Hispanic 15% 9% 13% 13%
% Native American 1% 0% 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0% 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 10% 4% 5% 5%
% International 9% 11% 10% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2% 3% 3%

Students

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
% In-State 37% 16% 12% 12%
% Out-of-State 47% 71% 71% 71%

Campus

 Stanford Princeton Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins
Campus Housing Yes Yes Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No No No
Learn More Details Details Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Stanford University is larger than than Princeton based on total student enrollment (18,446 students vs. 8,922 students)

Stanford vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Stanford or Princeton?

  • Stanford University is 3.4% more expensive to attend than Princeton for in-state tuition ($61,731.00 vs. $59,710.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.4% higher at Stanford than Princeton University ($61,731.00 vs. $59,710.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Stanford University than Princeton ($17,998 vs. $19,811)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Princeton University are 2.8% lower than costs at Stanford University ($19,380 vs. $19,922)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Princeton University than Stanford University (60% vs. 55%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 5.8% larger than aid received Princeton University ($64,164 vs. $60,629)

Stanford vs. Princeton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Stanford or Princeton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Princeton or Stanford .

  • The average SAT score at Princeton University (1490) is 11 points higher than at Stanford (1479)
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Stanford (33)
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Princeton (3.93)
  • Princeton has a higher acceptance rate (4.5%) than Stanford (3.9%)

Stanford vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Stanford or Princeton? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Princeton and Stanford.

  • The graduation rate at Stanford is the same as at Princeton University (96% vs. 96%)
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Princeton graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $113,900)
  • Princeton University students graduate with a $4,975 lower median federal student loan debt than Stanford graduates. ($7,500 vs. $12,475)
  • Princeton graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Stanford graduates. ($77 vs. $128)
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/