AU vs. Cornell

Deciding between American University and Cornell University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Cornell University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Cornell Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Cornell No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Cornell Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Cornell No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Cornell No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Cornell University 9:1.

AU vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Cornell? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cornell University than AU ($26,361 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 7.4% lower than at Cornell University ($17,982 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 17.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $10,543 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.9% higher at Cornell than at American University (about $10,543 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Cornell University (67% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 70% larger than aid received by American University students ($61,779 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Cornell? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cornell and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 170 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

AU vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Cornell? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $33,600 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $12,250 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($12,000 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $126 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($124 vs. $250).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.