Rutgers vs. Cornell

Should I go to Rutgers University New Brunswick or Cornell University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rutgers or Cornell is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Rutgers University New Brunswick vs. Cornell University comparison
Rutgers University New Brunswick Cornell University College 3 College 4
Rutgers University New Brunswick Cornell University
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Overview

Rutgers Cornell
Location New Brunswick, NJ Ithaca, NY
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 50,637 25,898
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #112 #19
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu cornell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rutgers Cornell
Tuition (In State) $12,900 $62,456
Tuition (Out of State) $30,600 $62,456
Room & Board $13,909 $16,988
Avg Net Price $17,535 $26,060
Avg Grant Aid $12,785 $54,219
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 51%

Admission

Rutgers Cornell
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 41,654 69,195
Admitted 27,612 5,168
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 7.5%
Enrolled % 28.2% 67.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.9
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 28/33 33/35
SAT Range 1270/1480 1470/1570
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 2, 2025

Academics

Rutgers Cornell
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Agriculture (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)

Outcomes

Rutgers Cornell
Graduation Rate 77% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $98,400
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $12,000
Median Loan Payment $229 $124

Diversity

Rutgers Cornell
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 41%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 7% 10%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

Rutgers Cornell
% In-State 85% 33%
% Out-of-State 8% 55%

Campus

Rutgers Cornell
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Cornell based on total student enrollment (50,637 students vs. 25,898 students)

Rutgers vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Cornell?

  • Cornell University is 384.2% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($62,456.00 vs. $12,900.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 104.1% higher at Cornell than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($62,456.00 vs. $30,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Cornell ($17,535 vs. $26,060)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 22.1% lower than costs at Cornell University ($13,909 vs. $16,988)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Cornell University (57% vs. 51%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 324.1% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($54,219 vs. $12,785)

Rutgers vs. Cornell Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Cornell? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cornell or Rutgers .

  • The average SAT score at Cornell University (1428) is 203 points higher than at Rutgers (1225)
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Cornell (7.5%)

Rutgers vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers or Cornell? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cornell and Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Cornell is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick (93% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn on average $32,200 more per year than Rutgers graduates after ten years. ($98,400 vs. $66,200)
  • Cornell University students graduate with a $10,215 lower median federal student loan debt than Rutgers graduates. ($12,000 vs. $22,215)
  • Cornell graduates are paying $105 less per month on federal student loans than Rutgers graduates. ($124 vs. $229)
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/