Princeton University, situated in Princeton, New Jersey, is a globally recognized Ivy League university with a mid-sized population of students. Admissions are highly competitive, with a 4.6% acceptance rate. It has a six-year graduation rate of more than 95%, one of the highest in the world. In worldwide rankings, Princeton is consistently placed in the top 20, with top 10 ratings in Economics, Mathematics, and Politics.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is among the world's top technology-oriented universities. Admissions are even more competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 1.9%. MIT is leading worldwide in all the STEM majors, especially Engineering, Computer Science, Physical Sciences, and Economics, and is renowned for its entrepreneurship and innovation.
| Princeton University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 8.3 Out of 10 | 9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 25 QS World University 2026 # 4 Times Higher Education 2025 # 6 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 1 QS World University 2026 # 1 QS World University 2025 # 2 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 8 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 15 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2024 # 142 for Medicine by QS World University 2024 | # 1 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 1 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 11 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -18 PG Programs -13 Doctorate Programs -6 | UG Programs -47 PG Programs -38 Doctorate Programs -29 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4.6 % | 1.9 % |
| Exam Score | GRE-308 IELTS-7 SAT-1460 TOEFL-108 | GRE-310 IELTS-7 PTE-65 SAT-1510 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 49450 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 62400 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 18630 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 30996 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 30995 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32280 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Hiring Companies are Amazon, IBM Corporation, Goldman Sachs Group, Raytheon Co., Microsoft, etc. Princeton University is one of the top private universities in Princeton, United States. It is ranked #=16 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
| Average Salaries Of Degree:
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| application requirements | Freshman need 3.87 GPA on a scale of 4.0 (A- grade or 90 to 92%). | Letter of recommendations (two, preferrably from teachers of subjects maths and science or humanities) |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 8 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 25 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 35 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 | # 1 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 3 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 8/9TOEFL - 112/120 | IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -62400 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -93022 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Apr 15, 2025 (Admission Decisions for 2025 Intake) Dec 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Mar 15, 2025 (Admission Decisions for 2025 Intake) May 25, 2025 (Fee Deposit for Spring Intake 2025) Dec 25, 2025 (Fee Deposit for Fall Intake 2026) | Dec 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Princeton University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1746 | 1861 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 3:1 |
| Male:Female | 71% Male, 29% Female | 55% Male, 45% Female |
| Location Facts | 500-acre campus located in central New Jersey; Philadelphia and New York are just 55 miles away which is an hour drive. The southern edge of the university has an artificial lake | Lying between central and kendall squares across Charles River from Boston’s Back bay. Small instituition with close knit student body postioned to collaborate and contribute to neighbors |
| Library | University has 14 libraries; Firestone Library is the main library having more than 11 million holdings in 12 buildings throughout the campus. It houses 3000 ebooks; 50,000 graphic arts collection; 100,000 coins collection; 1,244,911 paper of Princeton; 250,000 rare books collection; 10,000 archives and more | More than 5 million items, with over 21,000 MIT theses |
| Campus Life | 300 student organizations, 36 sport clubs, 17 chaplaincies and some of the campus life units such as Athletics and Campus Recreations; Center for Career Development; Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center; etc. | Over 450 co-curricular organizations, Society for Women Engineers, LGTQ+ community, Black stuents union, 33 varsity sports, The Tech (student newspaper), The Byte (graduate student publication), religious organizations, around 43 sororities, fraternities and independent living groups. |
| Hostel | #Room - $10960 | #Rooms - $12000 #Rooms - $13060 |
| Famous Alumni | Michelle Obama (former First Lady of US); James Madison and Woodrow Wilson (former US Presidents); Jeff Bezos (Amazon CEO and founder); Jimmy Stewart (actor); Alan Turing (father of theoretical computer science) | 85 Nobel laureates, 58 National Medal of Science Winners, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation Winners |
| City Life | The city of Princeton is located in the center of New Jersey, which is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of Northeastern USA. The cosmopolitan communities residing in the city offer students with multi-cuisine dining. You can shop around in downtown Princeton. The city also has a theatre, museum, and gardens. The unemployment rate is 3.6% . | Cambridge- city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts; City is part of the Boston metropolitan area; home to a huge student community; Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD; Famous tourist attractions: Charles River, Harvard Square, Mount Auburn Cemetery, MIT Museum, CambrdgeSide, John Harvard Statue, Sanders Theatre; Unemployment rate- 2.1% (Dec 2019) |
| Weather |
Princeton University vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Topic Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
Princeton University: Ranked around 25 globally (QS 2026), Princeton stands out in Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Public Policy, and Humanities. Princeton stands out especially in the hard sciences and liberal arts, and has a reputation for educating undergraduates.MIT: 1 globally (QS 2026), MIT dominates Engineering, Computer Science, Technology, Physical Sciences, and Economics. It is broadly regarded as the globe's greatest STEM and innovation university because it consistently tops research productivity and entrepreneurship rankings.
General Information
Princeton, founded in 1746, is an Ivy League institution in Princeton, New Jersey, and has a student body of around 8,500 students. Princeton is renowned for having a small campus, a low student-to-faculty ratio, and a focus on undergraduate teaching. MIT was founded in 1861 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has a student body of around 12,000 students, with an inclination towards STEM research, technology-driven entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary research
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both of them are very selective. Princeton accepts 4.6% with a strong emphasis on good academics, leadership, and intellectual curiosity, especially in the science and humanities areas. MIT accepts slightly less 1.9% with a strong emphasis on mathematical and scientific excellence, creativity, and research capability.
Research Impact & Facilities
Princeton is a Carnegie R1 research university with research excellence in theoretical sciences, public policy, and social sciences. It boasts the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab and state-of-the-art facilities in mathematics and physics. MIT is a global research powerhouse in AI, robotics, aerospace, biotech, climate science, and entrepreneurship. It has strong industry, government, and international institutional partnerships, including the Media Lab and Lincoln Laboratory.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are highly costly private universities, with fees over $60,000/year. Both, however, are generous in need-based aid. Princeton has a long history of no-loan financial aid, frequently making it one of the most financially accessible elite options for accepted students. MIT also meets full demonstrated need, supplemented by aid for STEM research and entrepreneurship.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Princeton graduates tend to be leaders in academia, politics, economics, finance, and public service (e.g., U.S. Presidents, Nobel winners, Supreme Court judges). MIT graduates are world leaders in technology, engineering, startups, and innovation, yielding Intel company founders, Dropbox founders, SpaceX collaborators, as well as many Nobel Prize recipients.
