Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey · Private Nonprofit · 4.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Princeton University scores 94 (Exceptional Value). Princeton charges $62,688 sticker but the average student pays $6,128 net - a 4-year total of about $24,500. That net price rivals community college costs. The payback period is 2.2 years. Median 10-year earnings reach $110,066. Completion rate is 97.6%. Its admissions rate is 4.6%. Top programs by earnings: Computer Science at $217,973 by year four and Economics at $160,763 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.109. Princeton's aid policy essentially covers full cost for families earning under $75,000 - the net price data confirms this. The school does not report debt repayment rate data.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 2.2 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Princeton University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $62,688/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $62,688/yr |
| Average net price | $6,128/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $24,512 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $110,066 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $73,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,320 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $109 |
| Estimated payback period | 2.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 97.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,709 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $62,688/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $6,128/year, or roughly $24,512 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $41/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $36,094/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $10,320, which works out to about $109 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($73,600) and comes to 0.14, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $41 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $352 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $1,217 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $4,478 |
| $110,001+ | $36,094 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $41 per year - effectively zero. Princeton's no-loan financial aid policy covers the full cost for the lowest-income students. Over four years, total student cost is under $200.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pay $352 per year; those earning $48,001-$75,000 pay $1,217. Cost remains near-zero well into the middle-income range. The aid structure is extraordinarily flat through the first three income tiers.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $36,094 per year - about $144,000 over four years. Against 10-year earnings of $110,066 and a payback period of only 2.2 years, the investment math works clearly for most majors. The key caveat: program selection still matters. CS and economics graduates clear the investment in years; history and sciences graduates may take longer.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Princeton University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $217,973 | - |
| Economics | $160,763 | A |
| Public Policy Analysis | $107,792 | A |
| Operations Research | $100,354 | - |
| History | $80,347 | - |
| International Relations | $88,576 | - |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $41,848 | - |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $63,216 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | $115,927 | - |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $62,344 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
201 graduates with 1-year earnings of $146,624 and 4-year earnings of $217,973. Princeton CS graduates are recruited aggressively by technology firms, hedge funds using quantitative strategies, and AI research labs. The school's reputation in theoretical computer science and its connections to major tech employers create a premium market for its graduates. Debt data is not available for this program specifically, but the school-wide median debt of $10,320 is extremely low.
Economics
132 graduates with 1-year earnings of $103,041 and 4-year earnings of $160,763. Debt-to-earnings ratio 0.109 (grade: A). The senior thesis requirement produces analysts who can do rigorous original work - a differentiator in quantitative finance and research roles. Combined with median debt of just $11,250, this is a clean ROI calculation.
Public Policy Analysis
114 graduates with 1-year earnings of $73,630 and 4-year earnings of $107,792. Debt-to-earnings 0.143 (grade: A). Graduates enter government agencies, international organizations, think tanks, and NGOs. Earnings at $107,792 by year four are strong for a public-service-oriented field. The low debt load (only $10,527 median) means graduates can afford public-sector starting salaries without financial strain.
International Relations
57 graduates with 1-year earnings of $63,317 and 4-year earnings of $88,576. Debt data not available for this program. Princeton's international relations graduates enter the State Department, international NGOs, foreign policy think tanks, and global consulting firms. Entry earnings in the low $60s are below the school average, but the 4-year trajectory above $88,000 shows meaningful progression.
History
72 graduates with 1-year earnings of $45,363 and 4-year earnings of $80,347. Debt data not available. History at Princeton feeds into law school, consulting (through case-based analytical skills), government, and publishing. First-year earnings in the mid-$40s reflect the reality that many graduates pursue graduate school before entering the workforce at higher earning levels. The 4-year number above $80,000 understates the full career trajectory for those who complete professional degrees.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Princeton University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 4.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 34-35 |
| Enrollment | 5,709 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $25,354 |
Princeton's admissions rate is 4.6%. SAT math 770-800, reading 740-780; ACT 34-35. Most qualified applicants will be denied. The holistic process rewards students who have pursued distinctive intellectual or creative paths, not just strong grades and test scores. Early action applicants historically see modestly higher admit rates.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Princeton's payback period is 2.2 years.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University (this school) | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 96 | $18,809 | $87,555 |
| Duke University | 96 | $29,612 | $97,800 |
| Dartmouth College | 95 | $29,519 | $97,434 |
| Centenary University | 53 | $20,503 | $53,726 |
| Caldwell University | 40 | $24,691 | $53,843 |
Who Thrives Here
Princeton admits students scoring ACT 34-35 or SAT 1510-1580. Students who thrive here tend to be intellectually self-directed: Princeton's independent work requirements (the junior paper and senior thesis) suit students who pursue ideas on their own terms. The school's research culture makes it particularly well-suited for students considering graduate school or research careers.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Princeton University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $24,512 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $110,066 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 2.2 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 97.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $10,320 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $73,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Princeton University: Common Questions
Is Princeton University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Princeton University pays off. It scores 94/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $6,128 a year after aid ($24,512 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $110,066 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 2.2 years to earn back.
How much does Princeton University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $6,128 a year, or roughly $24,512 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Princeton University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $110,066 ten years after enrolling, roughly $68,266 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Princeton University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 2.2 years for Princeton University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Princeton University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $10,320, against average earnings of $73,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Princeton University?
The six-year graduation rate is 97.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.