Cornell College vs. KU

Deciding between Cornell College and University of Kansas? 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.

Cornell College
University of Kansas

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • Setting
  • Cornell College Distant Town
  • KU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell College 1,094
  • KU 29,792
  • Type
  • Cornell College Private 4 Year
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell College #483
  • KU #317
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell College United Methodist
  • KU -
  • Status
  • Cornell College Non-profit
  • KU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell College
  • KU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell College $52,660
  • KU $12,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell College $52,660
  • KU $30,432
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell College $11,850
  • KU $11,358
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell College $25,220
  • KU $19,205
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell College $41,092
  • KU $11,541
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell College 100%
  • KU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell College 2,522
  • KU 22,363
  • Admitted
  • Cornell College 2,015
  • KU 20,905
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell College 79.9%
  • KU 93.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell College 14.3%
  • KU 25.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell College 1200
  • KU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell College 26
  • KU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell College 3.53
  • KU 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell College A-
  • KU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell College Challenging
  • KU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell College
  • KU
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell College 23/30
  • KU 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell College 1120/1285
  • KU 1070/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell College Test optional
  • KU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell College
  • KU Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell College 14:1
  • KU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell College
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell College 70%
  • KU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell College $45,400
  • KU $54,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell College 74%
  • KU 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell College $27,000
  • KU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell College $279
  • KU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell College 54%
  • KU 46%
  • % Women
  • Cornell College 46%
  • KU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell College Medium
  • KU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cornell College No
  • KU No
  • % White
  • Cornell College 66%
  • KU 72%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell College 3%
  • KU 4%
  • % Black
  • Cornell College 5%
  • KU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell College 13%
  • KU 7%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell College 1%
  • KU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell College 0%
  • KU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell College 3%
  • KU 5%
  • % International
  • Cornell College 3%
  • KU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell College 7%
  • KU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell College 28%
  • KU 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell College 68%
  • KU 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA with University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kansas is larger than Cornell College based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 1,094 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, IA (Distant Town setting); University of Kansas is in Lawrence, KS (Small City setting).
  • Cornell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell College 14:1; University of Kansas 18:1.

Cornell College vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell College or KU? 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 University of Kansas than Cornell College ($19,205 vs. $25,220).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 4.2% lower than at Cornell College ($11,358 vs. $11,850).
  • Cornell College is 335.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than KU (about $40,558 more per year; $52,660.00 vs. $12,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73% higher at Cornell College than at University of Kansas (about $22,228 more per year; $52,660.00 vs. $30,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell College than at University of Kansas (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 256.1% larger than aid received by University of Kansas students ($41,092 vs. $11,541).

Cornell College vs. KU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell College or KU? 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 KU and Cornell College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell College (1200) is 10 points higher than at KU (1190).
  • Incoming Cornell College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at KU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell College 1120/1285; University of Kansas 1070/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell College 23/30; University of Kansas 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell College - Test optional; KU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Cornell College (3.53).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than Cornell College (79.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Cornell College vs. 25.5% at KU.

Cornell College vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell College and KU? 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 College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than University of Kansas's (61%).
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than Cornell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,600 vs. $45,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Cornell College graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, KU graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell College graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More Cornell College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

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.