Cornell vs. Brown

Deciding between Cornell University and Brown 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.

Cornell University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Brown University 6:1.

Cornell vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Brown? 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 Brown University than Cornell ($26,256 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 10.2% lower than at Cornell University ($17,444 vs. $19,428).
  • Brown University is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell (about $2,098 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Brown than at Cornell University (about $2,098 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Cornell University (52% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 0.6% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($61,779 vs. $61,392).

Cornell vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Cornell (1540).
  • Incoming Cornell students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Cornell vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($12,000 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($124 vs. $155).
  • More Brown 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.