Cornell vs. Drexel

Deciding between Cornell University and Drexel 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
Drexel University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Drexel Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Drexel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Drexel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Drexel University 9:1.

Cornell vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Drexel? 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 Cornell University than Drexel ($26,361 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drexel University are 6.9% lower than at Cornell University ($18,096 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 11.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drexel (about $6,902 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.1% higher at Cornell than at Drexel University (about $6,902 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Cornell University (100% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 76.3% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($61,779 vs. $35,051).

Cornell vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 200 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Drexel - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

Cornell vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Drexel? 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 Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $21,000 more per year than Drexel graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $77,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $14,243 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($12,000 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $147 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($124 vs. $271).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.