Cornell vs. Hunter

Deciding between Cornell University and CUNY Hunter College? 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
CUNY Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Cornell vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than Cornell ($4,431 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 39.1% lower than at Cornell University ($11,832 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 839% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $61,932 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 352.1% higher at Cornell than at CUNY Hunter College (about $53,982 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Cornell University (87% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 533.3% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($61,779 vs. $9,755).

Cornell vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 280 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Cornell vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $49,600 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $452 lower median loan debt than Cornell graduates ($11,548 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell graduates ($119 vs. $124).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 56%)

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.