St. Mary's College vs. Cornell College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN with Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College is larger than Cornell College based on total student enrollment (1,601 students vs. 1,094 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Cornell College is in Mount Vernon, IA (Distant Town setting).
• Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College 9:1; Cornell College 14:1.

St. Mary's College vs. Cornell College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's College or Cornell College? 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 College than St. Mary's College ($25,220 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell College are 16.9% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($11,850 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell College (about $570 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $52,660.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at St. Mary's College than at Cornell College (about $570 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $52,660.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College as at Cornell College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 6% larger than aid received by Saint Mary's College students ($41,092 vs. $38,748).

St. Mary's College vs. Cornell College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's College or Cornell College? 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 College and St. Mary's College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College (1230) is 30 points higher than at Cornell College (1200).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at Cornell College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 1130/1325; Cornell College 1120/1285.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 26/30; Cornell College 23/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's College - Test optional; Cornell College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Cornell College (3.53).
• Cornell College has a higher acceptance rate (79.9%) than St. Mary's College (76%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at St. Mary's College vs. 14.3% at Cornell College.

St. Mary's College vs. Cornell College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's College and Cornell College? 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).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Cornell College's (70%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Cornell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $45,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell College and St. Mary's College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Cornell College and St. Mary's College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 74%)

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.