Cornell vs. NYU

Deciding between Cornell University and New York 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
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; New York University 8:1.

Cornell vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or NYU? 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 NYU ($26,361 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 17.4% lower than at New York University ($19,428 vs. $23,530).
  • Cornell University is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $6,518 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at Cornell than at New York University (about $6,518 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at New York University (48% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 14.6% larger than aid received by New York University students ($61,779 vs. $53,901).

Cornell vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 20 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming Cornell students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at NYU (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Cornell vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and NYU? 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $22,400 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $11,250 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($12,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($124 vs. $240).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.