Cornell vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Cornell University and Oberlin 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
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($26,361 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 0.4% lower than at Oberlin College ($19,428 vs. $19,510).
  • Cornell University is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oberlin (about $1,948 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,366.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Cornell than at Oberlin College (about $1,948 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,366.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Cornell University (99% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 72.7% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($61,779 vs. $35,780).

Cornell vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 100 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Oberlin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Cornell vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Oberlin? 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 Oberlin College's (88%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $54,500 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $14,579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($12,000 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($124 vs. $274).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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.