Cornell College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester

Should I go to Cornell College or University of Minnesota Rochester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cornell College or University of Minnesota-Rochester is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Cornell College vs. University of Minnesota Rochester comparison
Cornell College University of Minnesota Rochester College 3 College 4
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Overview

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Location Mount Vernon, IA Rochester, MN
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,073 630
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #424
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cornellcollege.edu umn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Tuition (In State) $48,514 $12,808
Tuition (Out of State) $48,514 $12,808
Room & Board $10,872 $12,882
Avg Net Price $25,686 $12,613
Avg Grant Aid $38,069 $11,833
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 67%

Admission

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,057 1,198
Admitted 2,425 859
Acceptance Rate 79.3% 71.7%
Enrolled % 13.6% 22.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/30 20/26
SAT Range 1170/1380 1058/1331
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 31, 2025

Academics

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Graduation Rate 70% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,400 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,185
Median Loan Payment $279 $208

Diversity

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
% Men 52% 20%
% Women 48% 80%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 79%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
% In-State 30% 78%
% Out-of-State 67% 21%

Campus

Cornell College University of Minnesota-Rochester
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cornell College is larger than than University of Minnesota-Rochester based on total student enrollment (1,073 students vs. 630 students)

Cornell College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell College or University of Minnesota-Rochester?

  • Cornell College is 278.8% more expensive to attend than University of Minnesota-Rochester for in-state tuition ($48,514.00 vs. $12,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 278.8% higher at Cornell College than University of Minnesota Rochester ($48,514.00 vs. $12,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Minnesota Rochester than Cornell College ($12,613 vs. $25,686)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell College are 18.5% lower than costs at University of Minnesota Rochester ($10,872 vs. $12,882)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cornell College than University of Minnesota Rochester (100% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 221.7% larger than aid received University of Minnesota Rochester ($38,069 vs. $11,833)

Cornell College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell College or University of Minnesota-Rochester? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Minnesota-Rochester or Cornell College .

  • The average SAT score at Cornell College (1177) is 67 points higher than at University of Minnesota-Rochester (1110)
  • Incoming Cornell College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at University of Minnesota-Rochester (24)
  • Cornell College has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than University of Minnesota-Rochester (71.7%)

Cornell College vs. University of Minnesota-Rochester Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cornell College or University of Minnesota-Rochester? 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 University of Minnesota-Rochester and Cornell College.

  • Graduates from University of Minnesota Rochester earn on average $12,800 more per year than Cornell College graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $45,400)
  • University of Minnesota Rochester students graduate with a $6,815 lower median federal student loan debt than Cornell College graduates. ($20,185 vs. $27,000)
  • University of Minnesota-Rochester graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Cornell College graduates. ($208 vs. $279)
  • More Cornell College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Minnesota-Rochester students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/