Yale vs. Princeton vs. Brown

Compare Yale University, Princeton University, and Brown University side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Yale University
Princeton University
Brown University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Princeton #1
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Princeton -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Princeton
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Princeton $68,727
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Princeton 67%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Princeton 1550
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Princeton A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • 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%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Princeton $77
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Princeton 52%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Princeton Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Princeton No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Princeton 45%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Princeton 22%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Princeton 8%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Princeton 9%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Princeton 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Princeton 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Princeton 11%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Princeton 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Princeton 14%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Princeton 74%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Yale Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Yale Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Yale Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Yale No
  • Princeton No
  • Brown No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Yale Yes
  • Princeton No
  • Brown No

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Princeton University in Princeton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 9,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Yale vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale ($15,313 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 1.7% lower than at Princeton University ($19,900 vs. $20,250).
  • Yale University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $4,562 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Yale than at Princeton University (about $4,562 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Yale University (67% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Yale University students ($68,727 vs. $65,892).

Yale vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale 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: Yale University 1470/1570; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Yale University 33/35; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Yale students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Princeton (3.93).
  • Princeton has a higher acceptance rate (4.6%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Yale vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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.

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Princeton University's (96%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Princeton graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $113,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Yale graduates ($7,500 vs. $13,500).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Yale graduates ($77 vs. $139).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.