Cornell vs. F&M

Deciding between Cornell University and Franklin and Marshall 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
Franklin and Marshall College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or F&M? 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 F&M ($26,361 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 16.7% lower than at Cornell University ($16,188 vs. $19,428).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell (about $1,480 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at F&M than at Cornell University (about $1,480 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Cornell University (80% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 47.4% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($61,779 vs. $41,901).

Cornell vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell or F&M? 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 F&M and Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 150 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Cornell vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $36,500 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $10,000 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($12,000 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($124 vs. $227).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.