Cornell vs. Fordham

Deciding between Cornell University and Fordham 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
Fordham University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Fordham based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Fordham? 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 Fordham ($26,361 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 19.4% lower than at Fordham University ($19,428 vs. $24,090).
  • Cornell University is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $4,399 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Cornell than at Fordham University (about $4,399 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Cornell University (95% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 71.7% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($61,779 vs. $35,988).

Cornell vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 140 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

Cornell vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Fordham? 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $34,200 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($12,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $144 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($124 vs. $268).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham 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.