UD vs. Cornell

Deciding between University of Delaware 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.

University of Delaware
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than UD based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 24,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; Cornell University 9:1.

UD vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 University of Delaware than Cornell ($19,139 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 20.8% lower than at Cornell University ($15,386 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 312.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $52,504 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.4% higher at Cornell than at University of Delaware (about $27,914 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Cornell University (91% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 364.4% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($61,779 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 260 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at UD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

UD vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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 University of Delaware's (78%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $37,100 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $12,203 lower median loan debt than UD graduates ($12,000 vs. $24,203).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $126 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UD graduates ($124 vs. $250).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UD students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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.