Princeton vs Texas at Austin - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Princeton admits 4.4% of applicants, while Texas at Austin admits 26.6%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.1% (Princeton) against 4.5% (Texas at Austin).
Real money goes to international students at Princeton ($86,736 on average), while Texas at Austin stops at $21,838.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Princeton starts at $95,624 against $60,460 and ends at $16,304 against $40,241 (Texas at Austin).
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 26.64% acceptance). Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#7 vs #45). Princeton graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($110K vs $75K). Texas at Austin has lower sticker-price tuition ($44,908 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 Princeton for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Texas at Austin for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Princeton is more selective (4.42% vs 26.64% acceptance); Princeton has a higher median SAT (1530 vs 1395).
Princeton graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($110K vs $75K); Princeton has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 88.9%).
Texas at Austin has lower sticker-price tuition ($44,908 vs $68,454); Princeton offers a larger average aid package ($79,320 vs $20,219).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Princeton | Texas at Austin |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #7 | #45 |
| Rank · THE | #4 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 4.42% | 26.64% |
| Yield rate | 75.4% | 47.4% |
| Median SAT | 1530 | 1395 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.96 | - |
| Number of applications | 42,303 | 72,885 |
| International students | 13.1% | 4.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $110K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $51K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $197K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 97.6% | 88.9% |
| Retention rate | 99% | 96.7% |
| Median debt | $10,320 | $20,500 |
| Tuition · year | $68,454 | $44,908 |
| Avg. aid package | $79,320 | $20,219 |
| % of need met | 100% | 75% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $21,251 | $19,919 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 9,281 | 53,864 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Princeton or Texas at Austin?
It's harder to get into Princeton. Princeton accepts 4.42% of applicants, while Texas at Austin accepts 26.64%.
Do Princeton or Texas at Austin graduates earn more?
Princeton graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $110K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Princeton vs Texas at Austin?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,454 per year at Princeton and $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin.
What SAT score do you need for Princeton or Texas at Austin?
The median admitted SAT score is 1530 at Princeton and 1395 at Texas at Austin; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Princeton or Texas at Austin?
Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #7 for Princeton vs #45 for Texas at Austin.
Which university offers more financial aid - Princeton or Texas at Austin?
The average aid package is $79,320 at Princeton and $20,219 at Texas at Austin.
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