Cornell vs. Villanova

Deciding between Cornell University and Villanova 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
Villanova University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Villanova 10,041
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Villanova #67
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Villanova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Villanova $67,776
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Villanova $17,694
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Villanova $37,201
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Villanova $47,609
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Villanova 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Villanova 23,256
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Villanova 6,274
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Villanova 27%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Villanova 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Villanova 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Villanova 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Villanova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Villanova High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Villanova 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Villanova Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Villanova 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Villanova $85,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Villanova 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Villanova $26,497
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Villanova $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Villanova 46%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Villanova 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Villanova Low
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Villanova No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Villanova 74%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Villanova 7%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Villanova 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Villanova 8%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Villanova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Villanova 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Villanova 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Villanova 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Villanova 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Villanova University is in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Villanova University 10:1.

Cornell vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Villanova? 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 Villanova ($26,361 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Villanova University are 8.9% lower than at Cornell University ($17,694 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Villanova (about $1,538 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Cornell than at Villanova University (about $1,538 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,776.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University as at Villanova University (48% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 29.8% larger than aid received by Villanova University students ($61,779 vs. $47,609).

Cornell vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 90 points higher than at Villanova (1450).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Villanova).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Villanova University 1395/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Villanova University 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Villanova - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Villanova (3.87).
  • Villanova has a higher acceptance rate (27%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Cornell vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Villanova? 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 Villanova University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Villanova graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $85,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $14,497 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($12,000 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $149 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Villanova graduates ($124 vs. $273).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.