Barnard vs. Cornell

Deciding between Barnard College 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.

Barnard College
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Barnard vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard ($26,361 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 10.5% lower than at Barnard College ($19,428 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell (about $574 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Barnard than at Cornell University (about $574 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at Barnard College (48% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 2.2% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($63,131 vs. $61,779).

Barnard vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 20 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Barnard vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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 Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $31,500 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $5,847 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($12,000 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($124 vs. $184).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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.