Princeton University

Princeton, NJ 5,709 Undergrads 98.0% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$84,040

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$6,128

After Aid

Median Earnings

$108,590

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$6,128

Peer Midpoint: $20,081

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation

$108,590

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment

$110,066

Peer Midpoint: $53,763

Graduation Rate98.0%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Average Starting Age19.3

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients19.3%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time100.0%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS88.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

4.6%

SAT Avg

1,553

SAT Reading

25th: 74074575th: 780

SAT Math

25th: 77077075th: 800

ACT Composite

25th: 343475th: 35

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$908k

+$441k

+$424k

Median Cost$6k/yr

+$886k

+$419k

+$402k

Full Cost$84k/yr

+$606k

+$139k

+$122k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$6k/yr

1822%

Full Cost$84k/yr

40%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return166%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-16%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology

BachCIP: 4502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,676

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Architecture

BachCIP: 0402

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,914

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Area Studies

BachCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,625

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

BachCIP: 2602

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$37,568

Natl Median: $65,466

Lifetime Value Added

-$146k

Chemical Engineering

BachCIP: 1407

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $98,158

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Civil Engineering

BachCIP: 1408

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $86,517

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Engineering

BachCIP: 1409

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$214,274

Natl Median: $109,015

Lifetime Value Added

+$1193k

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$217,973

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

+$1219k

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

BachCIP: 2613

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$62,344

Natl Median: $48,842

Lifetime Value Added

+$48k

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

$11,250

Earnings (4yr)

$160,763

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

+$795k

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

BachCIP: 1410

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $100,647

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$61,323

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

+$40k

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

BachCIP: 0502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,710

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

BachCIP: 4006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $60,190

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1605

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,459

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$80,347

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

+$186k

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

BachCIP: 1601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,984

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mechanical Engineering

BachCIP: 1419

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$115,927

Natl Median: $92,135

Lifetime Value Added

+$458k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,693

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

BachCIP: 2615

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,451

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Operations Research

BachCIP: 1437

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $122,531

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$88,576

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

+$249k

Public Policy Analysis

BachCIP: 4405

Median Debt

$10,527

Earnings (4yr)

$107,792

Natl Median: $73,721

Lifetime Value Added

+$396k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Research and Experimental Psychology

BachCIP: 4227

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$63,216

Natl Median: $55,695

Lifetime Value Added

+$55k

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1604

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,169

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$44,942

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$80k

Master's Degrees

Applied Mathematics

MastCIP: 2703

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $116,060

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Architectural Sciences and Technology

MastCIP: 0409

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $77,466

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Architecture

MastCIP: 0402

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $74,139

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Area Studies

MastCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,936

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Chemical Engineering

MastCIP: 1407

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $115,468

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Civil Engineering

MastCIP: 1408

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $98,323

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Engineering

MastCIP: 1409

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $136,736

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Science

MastCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $145,571

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mechanical Engineering

MastCIP: 1419

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $115,974

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Policy Analysis

MastCIP: 4405

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$120,163

Natl Median: $93,020

Lifetime Value Added

+$405k

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology

DocCIP: 4502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $77,473

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Applied Mathematics

DocCIP: 2703

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $123,729

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Architecture

DocCIP: 0402

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $80,586

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Area Studies

DocCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,249

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Astronomy and Astrophysics

DocCIP: 4002

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,233

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

DocCIP: 4004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $102,099

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

DocCIP: 2602

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $112,683

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology

DocCIP: 2611

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $153,586

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Chemical Engineering

DocCIP: 1407

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $141,187

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Chemistry

DocCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$76,460

Natl Median: $115,386

Lifetime Value Added

-$80k

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

DocCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,710

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Engineering

DocCIP: 1409

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $167,302

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Computer Science

DocCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $178,476

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology

DocCIP: 2613

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $97,173

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Economics

DocCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $135,560

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

DocCIP: 1410

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $157,305

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

DocCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,831

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

DocCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $68,718

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

DocCIP: 4006

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,039

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

DocCIP: 1605

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,725

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

DocCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$90,535

Natl Median: $70,550

Lifetime Value Added

+$2k

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

DocCIP: 1601

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $77,285

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mathematics

DocCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $89,656

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mechanical Engineering

DocCIP: 1419

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $131,070

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

DocCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $59,592

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

DocCIP: 2615

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $96,176

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

DocCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $70,449

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

DocCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $130,153

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

DocCIP: 4510

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $90,908

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Policy Analysis

DocCIP: 4405

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $119,220

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Religion/Religious Studies

DocCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $67,164

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Research and Experimental Psychology

DocCIP: 4227

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $103,410

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

DocCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,860

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

DocCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $88,618

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.