Cornell vs. Stanford

Deciding between Cornell University and Stanford 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 18,625 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than Cornell ($25,078 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 8.9% lower than at Stanford University ($19,428 vs. $21,315).
  • Cornell University is 5.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $3,404 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Cornell than at Stanford University (about $3,404 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Cornell University (61% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($62,755 vs. $61,779).

Cornell vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell or Stanford? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Stanford and Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Cornell (1540).
  • Incoming Cornell students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Cornell University 1500/1570; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Cornell University 33/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Stanford 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 Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Cornell vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Stanford? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $24,500 more per year than Cornell graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $98,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $475 lower median loan debt than Stanford graduates ($12,000 vs. $12,475).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Stanford graduates ($124 vs. $128).
  • More Stanford 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.