Bentley vs. Cornell

Deciding between Bentley 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.

Bentley University
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bentley -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Bentley Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bentley
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bentley A-
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bentley Low
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Bentley 28/31
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Bentley 1280/1430
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bentley $274
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bentley 59%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Bentley 41%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bentley Medium
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bentley No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Bentley 62%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Bentley 8%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Bentley 3%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bentley 7%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Bentley 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bentley 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bentley 2%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Bentley 14%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bentley 3%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bentley 39%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bentley 44%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Bentley based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 5,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Bentley vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley 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 Bentley ($26,361 vs. $45,802).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 3.5% lower than at Bentley University ($19,428 vs. $20,140).
  • Cornell University is 13.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bentley (about $8,314 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.6% higher at Cornell than at Bentley University (about $8,314 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Cornell University (88% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 83.5% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($61,779 vs. $33,673).

Bentley vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley 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 Bentley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 180 points higher than at Bentley (1360).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Bentley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 1280/1430; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 28/31; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bentley - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Bentley (3.75).
  • Bentley has a higher acceptance rate (45.1%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Bentley vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bentley 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 Bentley University's (88%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Bentley graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $87,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $14,500 lower median loan debt than Bentley graduates ($12,000 vs. $26,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bentley graduates ($124 vs. $274).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.