Cornell vs. Kenyon

Deciding between Cornell University and Kenyon 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
Kenyon College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Kenyon #62
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Kenyon -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Kenyon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Kenyon 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Kenyon 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Kenyon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Kenyon High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Kenyon $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Kenyon 44%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Kenyon Low
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Kenyon No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Kenyon 73%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Kenyon 7%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Kenyon 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Kenyon 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Kenyon 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Kenyon 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with Kenyon College in Gambier, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Kenyon based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

Cornell vs. Kenyon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Kenyon? 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 Kenyon ($26,361 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 19.5% lower than at Cornell University ($15,640 vs. $19,428).
  • Kenyon College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell (about $2,206 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Kenyon than at Cornell University (about $2,206 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kenyon College than at Cornell University (82% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 51.7% larger than aid received by Kenyon College students ($61,779 vs. $40,731).

Cornell vs. Kenyon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 110 points higher than at Kenyon (1430).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Kenyon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Kenyon College 1358/1503.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Kenyon College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Kenyon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Kenyon (3.84).
  • Kenyon has a higher acceptance rate (31%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

Cornell vs. Kenyon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Kenyon? 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 Kenyon College's (87%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $45,500 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Kenyon graduates ($12,000 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kenyon graduates ($124 vs. $196).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kenyon students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.