---
title: 'Why Money''s #1 School Is a Big Deal'
description: The top-ranked school in MONEY's Best College's listing has illustrious alumni and terrific financial aid.
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published: '2016-07-11T11:30:26.000Z'
modified: '2020-07-07T11:06:00.000Z'
section: Education
tags:
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> **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/).

![Woodrow Wilson](https://img.money.com/2016/07/gettyimages-3426868.jpg)
*circa 1916: Woodrow Wilson (1856 - 1924) the 28th President of the United States of America. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)*

Princeton University, ranked #1 in Money's [2016-2017 Best Colleges listing](https://money.com/best-colleges/rankings/best-colleges/), is a big deal—and a great deal, too.

It's a big deal because this Ivy League institution, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, can claim scores of distinguished alumni, including past presidents of the United States (such as Woodrow Wilson), the current First Lady, and three justices now on the Supreme Court.

The school is a great deal because of the combination of financial aid it offers to students and the earnings power that students, on average, have upon graduation. Households with incomes below $65,000 can get a free ride, and earnings for recent alumni top those of graduates of similar schools.

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