Location
- Princeton University
- Princeton, NJ
- Harvard University
- Cambridge, MA
Princeton University vs Harvard University
Princeton, NJ · Cambridge, MA · largest Scorecard gap: avg net price
Scorecard match plate
Pair NJ:MA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-PAR · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-NET
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE NJ × MA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-PAR Earnings near-par
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-NET Largest gap · Avg Net Price
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both acceptance rates tightened, 2013–2023
TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023
Princeton University and Harvard University each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.
- Harvard University: acceptance rate tightened -40.9% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- Princeton University: acceptance rate tightened -39.3% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.84).
- Princeton University: net price ranged $7,103–$11,317 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +25.5% is not a trend (r² 0.26).
- Harvard University: net price ranged $13,259–$19,500 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +19.7% is not a trend (r² 0.10).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Princeton University
- 5,709
- Harvard University
- 7,601
Avg Net Price
- Princeton University
- $6,128
- Harvard University
- $19,066
Median Debt at Graduation
- Princeton University
- $10,320
- Harvard University
- $14,000
Acceptance Rate
- Princeton University
- 4.6%
- Harvard University
- 3.6%
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Princeton University
- $87,815
- Harvard University
- $99,572
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Princeton University
- $110,066
- Harvard University
- $101,817
In-State Tuition
- Princeton University
- $62,688
- Harvard University
- $61,676
Out-of-State Tuition
- Princeton University
- $62,688
- Harvard University
- $61,676
150%-Time Completion
- Princeton University
- 97.4%
- Harvard University
- 97.5%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair · 1 tied metrics omitted. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Princeton, NJ | Cambridge, MA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 5,709 | 7,601 |
| Avg Net Price | $6,128 | $19,066 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,320 | $14,000 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4.6% | 3.6% |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $87,815 | $99,572 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $110,066 | $101,817 |
| In-State Tuition | $62,688 | $61,676 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $62,688 | $61,676 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 97.4% | 97.5% |
Largest gaps: Princeton University vs Harvard University
- AVG-NET-PRICE Princeton University leads on avg net price ($6,128 vs $19,066 at Harvard University)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Princeton University leads on median debt at graduation ($10,320 vs $14,000 at Harvard University)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Harvard University leads on acceptance rate (3.6% vs 4.6% at Princeton University)
Princeton University profile · Harvard University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Avg Net Price and other Scorecard questions
On avg net price, who leads between Princeton University and Harvard University?▼
Princeton University leads on avg net price at $6,128 versus $19,066 at Harvard University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Princeton University and Harvard University?▼
Princeton University leads on median debt at graduation at $10,320 versus $14,000 at Harvard University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Princeton University and Harvard University?▼
Harvard University leads on acceptance rate at 3.6% versus 4.6% at Princeton University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); avg net price focus for this pair · 2025