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

Compare Stanford University, Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, and Johns Hopkins University in one place. The table aligns tuition and aid, admissions, student body, campus context, graduation outcomes, and earnings so you can weigh fit as well as cost. Figures use the same comparable fields we publish for more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Stanford University
Princeton University
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD
  • Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD
  • Setting
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Johns Hopkins Large City
  • Johns Hopkins Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Johns Hopkins 30,210
  • Johns Hopkins 30,210
  • Type
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • Johns Hopkins Private 4 Year
  • Johns Hopkins Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Stanford #3
  • Princeton #1
  • Johns Hopkins #10
  • Johns Hopkins #10
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Stanford -
  • Princeton -
  • Johns Hopkins -
  • Johns Hopkins -
  • Status
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Johns Hopkins Non-profit
  • Johns Hopkins Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Stanford
  • Princeton
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Johns Hopkins

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Johns Hopkins $65,230
  • Room & Board
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Johns Hopkins $20,150
  • Johns Hopkins $20,150
  • Average Net Price
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Johns Hopkins $26,017
  • Johns Hopkins $26,017
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Stanford $62,755
  • Princeton $68,727
  • Johns Hopkins $59,977
  • Johns Hopkins $59,977
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Stanford 61%
  • Princeton 67%
  • Johns Hopkins 60%
  • Johns Hopkins 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Johns Hopkins 45,895
  • Johns Hopkins 45,895
  • Admitted
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Johns Hopkins 2,954
  • Johns Hopkins 2,954
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Johns Hopkins 6.4%
  • Johns Hopkins 6.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Stanford 1550
  • Princeton 1550
  • Johns Hopkins 1550
  • Johns Hopkins 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Stanford 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Johns Hopkins 35
  • Johns Hopkins 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Johns Hopkins 3.92
  • Johns Hopkins 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Stanford A
  • Princeton A
  • Johns Hopkins A
  • Johns Hopkins A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Stanford Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Johns Hopkins Elite
  • Johns Hopkins Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Stanford Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • Johns Hopkins Extreme
  • Johns Hopkins Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Stanford 34/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • Johns Hopkins 34/36
  • Johns Hopkins 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Johns Hopkins 1520/1570
  • Johns Hopkins 1520/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Stanford Required
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Johns Hopkins Required
  • Johns Hopkins Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027
  • Johns Hopkins Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Stanford 52%
  • Princeton 52%
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • Johns Hopkins 47%
  • % Women
  • Stanford 48%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Johns Hopkins 53%
  • Johns Hopkins 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Stanford Very High
  • Princeton Very High
  • Johns Hopkins Very High
  • Johns Hopkins Very High
  • HBCU
  • Stanford No
  • Princeton No
  • Johns Hopkins No
  • Johns Hopkins No
  • % White
  • Stanford 37%
  • Princeton 45%
  • Johns Hopkins 41%
  • Johns Hopkins 41%
  • % Asian
  • Stanford 20%
  • Princeton 22%
  • Johns Hopkins 22%
  • Johns Hopkins 22%
  • % Black
  • Stanford 6%
  • Princeton 8%
  • Johns Hopkins 6%
  • Johns Hopkins 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Stanford 15%
  • Princeton 9%
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • % Native American
  • Stanford 1%
  • Princeton 0%
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Stanford 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • Johns Hopkins 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Stanford 10%
  • Princeton 4%
  • Johns Hopkins 5%
  • Johns Hopkins 5%
  • % International
  • Stanford 9%
  • Princeton 11%
  • Johns Hopkins 10%
  • Johns Hopkins 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Stanford 0%
  • Princeton 2%
  • Johns Hopkins 3%
  • Johns Hopkins 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Stanford 38%
  • Princeton 14%
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • Johns Hopkins 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Stanford 45%
  • Princeton 74%
  • Johns Hopkins 71%
  • Johns Hopkins 71%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 9,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Stanford vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Stanford 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 Stanford ($15,313 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Princeton University are 5% lower than at Stanford University ($20,250 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $3,222 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at Stanford than at Princeton University (about $3,222 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Stanford University (67% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($68,727 vs. $62,755).

Stanford vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Stanford 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 Stanford.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is the same as at Princeton (1550).
  • Incoming Stanford 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: Stanford University 1510/1580; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Stanford University 34/35; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Stanford - Required; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Stanford Jan 2, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled 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 (4.6%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 81.9% at Stanford vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Stanford vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Stanford 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.

  • The graduation rate at Stanford is the same as at Princeton University (96% vs. 96%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Princeton graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $113,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $4,975 lower median loan debt than Stanford graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,475).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.