MHC vs. Cornell

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College and Cornell 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Cornell University 9:1.

MHC vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC or Cornell? 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 MHC ($26,361 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 1.3% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($19,428 vs. $19,684).
  • Cornell University is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $2,296 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at Cornell than at Mount Holyoke College (about $2,296 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Cornell University (77% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($61,779 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 80 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

MHC vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC and Cornell? 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $48,400 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $9,206 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($12,000 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($124 vs. $219).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.