Princeton University vs. UC Berkeley Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Princeton University or UC Berkeley?“
Princeton University
UC Berkeley
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Princeton University and UC Berkeley . This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Princeton University and UC Berkeley
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Princeton University and UC Berkeley . The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Princeton University | UC Berkeley | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $43,450 | $13,431 |
| Net Price | $8,848 | $13,262 |
| Average Financial Aid | $45,707 | $10,677 |
| Total Undergraduates | 5260 | 27496 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1390 - 1590 | 1250 - 1510 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7 | 17 |
| Location | 1 Nassau Hall | 200 California Hall |
| City Name | Princeton | Berkeley |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Princeton University is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Princeton and Berkeley. Princeton University is in a Mid-Atlantic and UC Berkeley is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Princeton University or UC Berkeley Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Princeton University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Princeton University is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, UC Berkeley is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Princeton University Dorms Compare to housing Options at UC Berkeley?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Princeton University charges for on-campus living, while UC Berkeley charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Princeton University and UC Berkeley student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Princeton University , % | UC Berkeley,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 44.54 | 26.889999999999997 |
| Hispanic | 9.3 | 14.09 |
| Black | 7.6 | 2.12 |
| Foreign | 11.44 | 13.71 |
| Others | 27.1 | 43.2 |
How different is the Princeton University campus compared to UC Berkeley campus?
The Princeton University campus is located in Princeton, NJ and is characterized as Suburb: Large (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of 250,000 or more). The UC Berkeley campus is located in Berkeley, CA and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Princeton University provides $45,707 whereas UC Berkeley provides an average of $10,677.
How does Princeton University academics compare to UC Berkeley?
When analyzing academics between Princeton University and UC Berkeley we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Princeton University | UC Berkeley |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | N/A | 353 |
| Architecture and related services | 9 | 143 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 17 | 175 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | 227 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | N/A | 501 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 340 | 917 |
| Education | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Princeton University or UC Berkeley ?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Princeton University and UC Berkeley. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Princeton University social life compare to UC Berkeley?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Princeton University social life differs from UC Berkeley.
Check here.
Check here.