Princeton vs. Cornell

Deciding between Princeton University 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.

Princeton University
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Princeton #1
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Princeton -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Princeton
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Princeton $68,727
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Princeton 67%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Princeton 1550
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Princeton 34
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Princeton A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Princeton Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Princeton Extreme
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Princeton 34/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Princeton 96%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Princeton 83%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Princeton $77
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Princeton 52%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Princeton 48%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Princeton Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Princeton No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Princeton 45%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Princeton 22%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Princeton 8%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Princeton 9%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Princeton 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Princeton 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Princeton 4%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Princeton 11%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Princeton 2%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Princeton 14%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Princeton 74%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 9,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Princeton vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton 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 Princeton University than Cornell ($15,313 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 4.1% lower than at Princeton University ($19,428 vs. $20,250).
  • Cornell University is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $6,626 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Cornell than at Princeton University (about $6,626 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Cornell University (67% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 11.2% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($68,727 vs. $61,779).

Princeton vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Princeton 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 Princeton.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Cornell (1540).
  • Incoming Princeton students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Cornell (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 1510/1580; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Princeton vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton 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).

  • Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Cornell graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $98,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Cornell graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell graduates ($77 vs. $124).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.