Cornell vs. UB

Deciding between Cornell University and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University at Buffalo is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Cornell vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or UB? 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 University at Buffalo than Cornell ($20,529 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 10.3% lower than at Cornell University ($17,426 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 533.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $58,378 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119.8% higher at Cornell than at University at Buffalo (about $37,778 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Cornell University (76% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 479.4% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($61,779 vs. $10,663).

Cornell vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 240 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 14.1% at UB.

Cornell vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and UB? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $40,000 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than UB graduates ($12,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UB graduates ($124 vs. $201).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

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.