Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU Coe College George Fox University Grinnell Whitworth University Knox College Drake Western Washington University Central Washington University Beloit College| Cornell College | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
| Location | Mount Vernon, IA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,084 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #455 | #246 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cornellcollege.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $49,970 | $37,965 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $49,970 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,358 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $25,850 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $38,486 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,087 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 2,490 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.7% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.53 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1318 | 1050/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,400 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $264 |
Diversity |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 8% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 30% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Cornell College | SPU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Cornell College based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 1,084 students)
Cornell College vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cornell College or SPU?
- Cornell College is 31.6% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($49,970.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- Out of state tuition is 31.6% higher at Cornell College than Seattle Pacific University ($49,970.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cornell College than SPU ($25,850 vs. $26,155)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell College are 36.5% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($11,358 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cornell College than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 37.1% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($38,486 vs. $28,070)
Cornell College vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Cornell College or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Cornell College .
- The average SAT score at Cornell College (1177) is 32 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming Cornell College students have at the same average ACT score (26) as students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman Cornell College students have at the same average high school GPA (3.53) as students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Cornell College (80.7%)
Cornell College vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cornell College or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and Cornell College.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Cornell College (74% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $5,000 more per year than Cornell College graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $45,400)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Cornell College graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Cornell College graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
- More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/