Princeton University vs Harvard University

Princeton University vs Harvard University

Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)

Princeton University is placed at about 25th in QS World University Rankings 2026 and 4th in Times Higher Education, with specific strength in Engineering, Mathematics, Economics, and Natural Sciences, in which it is always ranked in the world's top 10. Harvard University, however, is placed 5th in QS World University Rankings 2026 and 3rd in Times Higher Education. It is superior across the board, particularly in Law, Medicine, Business, Social Sciences, and Life Sciences, where most of its programs are ranked as number one in the world. While Princeton prioritizes teaching at the undergraduate level and theoretical research, Harvard is characterized by its mix of top undergraduate programs, unmatched professional schools, and dominant global research presence.

General Information

Princeton University, established in 1746, is situated in Princeton, New Jersey, and boasts a student population of around 8,842, the majority of which is undergraduates. It is well-known for its intimate campus community, residential college system, and low student-faculty ratio that optimizes individualized learning. Harvard University, established earlier in 1636, is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just over the Charles River from Boston. It has more than 21,000 enrolled students, a balance of undergrads and graduate students, and is renowned for its House system as well as its access to Boston's entrepreneurial innovation and academic environment.

Acceptance Rate & Admission

Both institutions are highly competitive. Princeton's acceptance rate is around 4.6 percent, emphasizing liberal arts and STEM education at the undergraduate level. Harvard has an even lower acceptance rate of approximately 3.5 percent, mirroring its competitiveness both at undergraduate and graduate levels, including Harvard Business School, Law School, and Medical School, which are world-famous. Both admissions usually demand SAT scores of more than 1500 or ACT scores of 34–35, along with exceptional extracurricular activities.

Research Impact & Facilities

Princeton University is strongest in the theoretical sciences, engineering, and public policy. The university accommodates top facilities like Firestone Library, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and Princeton Plasma Physics Lab to foster intensive scholarship within a concentrated academic environment. Harvard University is, however, a world leader in life sciences, medicine, business, and social sciences. Its research facilities consist of Harvard Medical School, the Widener Library, and an interconnected network of advanced labs with world-class teaching hospitals. While Princeton encourages smaller-scale, intensive, and highly specialized research, Harvard leads in large-scale, cross-disciplinary, and internationally funded projects.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both are private and costly, but both provide among the most generous financial aid policies in the world. Princeton costs approximately $59,710 a year to attend, but its need-based aid plan is so complete that low- and middle-income family students pay hardly anything or nothing at all, with aid carrying over to help meet living expenses. Harvard's cost is a touch lower at some $57,246 per year, but its aid package is just as generous, with families that make less than $85,000 paying no tuition at all. Overall, even with the exorbitant sticker costs, both universities are still open to a wide variety of students because of their superb financial aid.

Graduate Studies & Research

Princeton and Harvard both have alumni bases that have worldwide reach. Princeton alumni consist of U.S. Presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and notable figures like Jeff Bezos, a testament to the strength of the university in bringing forth high-impact scholars and inventors. Harvard's alumni network is much bigger and more internationally renowned, including famous alumni like Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates (attended but not graduated). Harvard's network has a pervasive influence in law, business, politics, medicine, and global leadership, while Princeton's smaller alumni network focuses on intimate mentoring and lifelong intellectual and professional guidance. According to career outcomes, Princeton graduates have median incomes of approximately $113,900 ten years after graduation, while Harvard graduates have greater incomes at approximately $124,200.