Rice vs Princeton - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Princeton awards international students $86,736 on average, Rice awards $76,332.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Princeton lists $95,624 against $92,262 (Rice), but after average aid what remains is $16,304 against $23,222.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Princeton: $110K against $90K.
At 4.4% and 8%, both admissions processes remain a lottery for any candidate; the difference between them is not an argument here.
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 8% 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 $90K). Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 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 Rice 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 8% acceptance); Rice has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1530).
Princeton graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($110K vs $90K); Princeton has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 94.6%).
Rice has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,497 vs $68,454); Princeton offers a larger average aid package ($79,320 vs $69,040).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rice | Princeton |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #7 |
| Rank · THE | - | #4 |
| Acceptance rate | 8% | 4.42% |
| Yield rate | 44.2% | 75.4% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1530 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.96 |
| Number of applications | 32,473 | 42,303 |
| International students | 13% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $90K | $110K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $63K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $144K | $197K |
| Graduation rate | 94.6% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 97.4% | 99% |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $10,320 |
| Tuition · year | $67,497 | $68,454 |
| Avg. aid package | $69,040 | $79,320 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,418 | $21,251 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 8,961 | 9,281 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rice or Princeton?
It's harder to get into Princeton. Rice accepts 8% of applicants, while Princeton accepts 4.42%.
Do Rice or Princeton graduates earn more?
Princeton graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $110K vs $90K.
How much is tuition at Rice vs Princeton?
Sticker-price tuition is $67,497 per year at Rice and $68,454 per year at Princeton.
What SAT score do you need for Rice or Princeton?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Rice and 1530 at Princeton; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rice or Princeton?
Princeton ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Rice vs #7 for Princeton.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rice or Princeton?
The average aid package is $69,040 at Rice and $79,320 at Princeton.
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