Graduates earn among the highest incomes nationally, with outcomes that significantly exceed peer expectations.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Princeton graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings increase from $87,815 six years after enrollment to $112,152 at eight years and $110,066 at ten years, representing 25.3% growth from the six-year baseline.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduates from this institution significantly outperform peers — earnings are 75% higher than similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $10,320 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Princeton graduates carry minimal debt burden with a median of $10,320, ranking in the 90th percentile nationally and falling $13,861 below the peer median of $24,181. Debt levels span from $3,045 at the 25th percentile to $16,094 at the 75th percentile, indicating most graduates borrow modestly if at all.
Princeton University achieves exceptional return on investment, ranking at the 99.4th percentile nationally—among the highest we track. Graduates earn $25,237 beyond expectations relative to similar students, placing Princeton in the 96.1st percentile for earnings uplift and demonstrating top-tier performance in translating educational investment into career outcomes.
Approximately 27.6% of Princeton graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with medium confidence. This sub...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Computer Science drives the strongest earnings outcomes at $146,624, ranking #21 nationally and graduating 158 students annually. Applied Economics follows at $103,078 with #23 national ranking and 126 graduates, while Operations Research achieves $100,354 with #2 national ranking despite smaller enrollment of 69 students.
These technical and quantitative programs anchor Princeton's strong earnings performance, while liberal arts programs like English Literature ($47,260) and American History ($43,798) deliver solid outcomes for fields typically associated with moderate financial returns. The diversity across programs supports Princeton's overall return performance by providing strong outcomes across multiple academic disciplines, though STEM and economics programs generate the highest individual earnings that help drive institutional averages.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution demonstrates significant variation in career outcomes and post-graduation paths. The spread from $68,313 at the 25th percentile to $197,494 at the 75th percentile creates a 2.9:1 ratio, indicating substantial differences in field selection and career trajectory.
