Does WashU or Princeton have worse grade deflation?

Question

I’m trying to compare how hard it is to earn high grades at WashU versus Princeton because that affects how I’d view the academic environment. I’ve heard both schools can be very challenging, but people talk about grade deflation differently at each one.

I want to understand which school is generally known for more grade deflation and how that shows up in classes.

I want to understand which school is generally known for more grade deflation and how that shows up in classes.

Accepted Answer

Princeton is the one more historically associated with grade deflation. WashU is definitely rigorous, especially in pre-med and STEM-heavy tracks, but it is not usually the school people point to first for institutional grade deflation.

For a student worried about the broad campus grading culture, Princeton is more likely to feel intentionally strict. The academic environment there can be intense, and in some courses high grades may be harder to come by because expectations are very high and classmates are extremely strong.

WashU tends to fit students who want demanding academics without the same longstanding deflation reputation. Where students most often feel pressure is in specific pathways, especially pre-med weed-out science classes, where grading can be tough and competition can feel real. Outside of those areas, WashU is not commonly described as having a campus-wide deflation culture in the way Princeton has been.

So if your question is simply which school is more known for grade deflation, the answer is Princeton. If your question is where earning high grades may feel hard in day-to-day life, both can be challenging, but Princeton carries the stronger overall deflation reputation while WashU’s difficulty is more concentrated in certain departments and tracks.

Does WashU or Princeton have worse grade deflation?

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