Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given Princeton's 4.5% acceptance rate, most applicants—even highly qualified ones—should consider Princeton a reach school and build balanced college lists with more accessible alternatives.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar outcomes with better admission odds, consider Stevens Institute of Technology (43.4% acceptance, $108,772 median earnings) located 43 miles from Princeton. Lehigh University admits 29.3% of applicants while producing graduates earning $105,584, located 42 miles away. Both institutions offer strong engineering and business programs with significantly more realistic admission prospects.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students preferring to stay in the Northeast should consider Columbia University (4.2% acceptance, $102,491 earnings) 48 miles away for similar selectivity with different campus culture. Swarthmore College (6.9% acceptance, $80,257 earnings) offers a small liberal arts environment 48 miles south with somewhat better admission odds.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
Similar quality tier in Northeast (#62 ranked)
