Emory vs Princeton - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Princeton: 4.4% against 10.3% (Emory).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Princeton awards international students $86,736 on average, Emory awards $54,457.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Princeton starts at $95,624 against $90,574 and ends at $16,304 against $23,245 (Emory).
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Princeton: $110K against $80K.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Princeton is the more selective of the two (4.42% vs 10.29% acceptance). Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #7). Princeton graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($110K vs $80K). Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,056 vs $68,454 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Emory for: lower tuition.
Choose Princeton for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Princeton is more selective (4.42% vs 10.29% acceptance); Princeton has a higher median SAT (1530 vs 1510).
Princeton graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($110K vs $80K); Princeton has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 91.1%).
Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,056 vs $68,454); Princeton offers a larger average aid package ($79,320 vs $67,329).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Emory | Princeton |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #7 |
| Rank · THE | - | #4 |
| Acceptance rate | 10.29% | 4.42% |
| Yield rate | 40.4% | 75.4% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1530 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.84 | 3.96 |
| Number of applications | 34,614 | 42,303 |
| International students | 16.7% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $110K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $120K | $197K |
| Graduation rate | 91.1% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 96% | 99% |
| Median debt | $18,250 | $10,320 |
| Tuition · year | $68,056 | $68,454 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,329 | $79,320 |
| % of need met | 99.9% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $24,562 | $21,251 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 15,179 | 9,281 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Emory or Princeton?
It's harder to get into Princeton. Emory accepts 10.29% of applicants, while Princeton accepts 4.42%.
Do Emory or Princeton graduates earn more?
Princeton graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $110K vs $80K.
How much is tuition at Emory vs Princeton?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,056 per year at Emory and $68,454 per year at Princeton.
What SAT score do you need for Emory or Princeton?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Emory and 1530 at Princeton; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Emory or Princeton?
Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Emory vs #7 for Princeton.
Which university offers more financial aid - Emory or Princeton?
The average aid package is $67,329 at Emory and $79,320 at Princeton.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina