Cornell vs. Rice

Deciding between Cornell University and Rice 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
Rice University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Rice University 6:1.

Cornell vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Rice? 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 Rice University than Cornell ($23,589 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 6.8% lower than at Cornell University ($18,100 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 8.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $5,170 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Cornell than at Rice University (about $5,170 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at Cornell University (56% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 9.9% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($61,779 vs. $56,199).

Cornell vs. Rice Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is the same as at Rice (1540).
  • Incoming Cornell students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Rice (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Rice (8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Cornell vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Rice? 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 Rice University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $12,000 more per year than Rice graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $86,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $1,773 lower median loan debt than Cornell graduates ($10,227 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell graduates ($105 vs. $124).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rice 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.