Princton vs Washington University in St Louis (WashU)
Princeton University and Washington University in St. Louis, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Princeton, an Ivy League university located in New Jersey, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 5.8%, while Washington University, a private research university in Missouri, has a more accessible acceptance rate of 15.3%. Princeton's student body is predominantly composed of domestic students, with international students comprising 13% of the undergraduate population, while Washington University's student body is more diverse, with international students making up 18% of the undergraduate population. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Princeton including computer science, economics, and molecular biology, and popular majors at Washington University including biology, business, and psychology. Princeton's graduation rate is slightly higher at 95%, compared to Washington University's 92%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences between these two esteemed
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![]() Princeton University |
![]() Washington University in St Louis |
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Overview |
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Location | Princeton, New Jersey | Saint Louis, Missouri |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 4.4% | 13.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$45
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SAT range | 1460 - 1570 | 1490 - 1570 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 56.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 35.0% | 41.0% |
Total number of applicants | 37,601 | 33,634 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,647 | 4,373 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,290 | 1,980 |
Yield rate | 78.3% | 45.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,490 | $81,620 |
Average net price | $20,908 | $28,298 |
Tuition | $56,010 | $57,750 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,690
Meal plan:
$7,490
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Room/dormitory:
$12,350
Meal plan:
$5,550
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
65.0%
Average amount $47,136 |
44.0%
Average amount $51,288 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
2.0%
Average amount $5,278 |
14.0%
Average amount $4,790 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $8,938 |
2.0%
Average amount $25,095 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,321
Men 50.3% Women 49.7% |
8,034
Men 46.4% Women 53.6% |
Graduate students |
3,157
Men 58.3% Women 41.7% |
8,939
Men 47.6% Women 52.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 82.6% | 88.2% |
International students | 22.8% | 26.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,151 | 6,826 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New Jersey California New York Pennsylvania Texas | California Missouri New York Illinois Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 5:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 97.6% | 93.1% |
Dropout rate | 1.9% | 6.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
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