Yale vs. Cornell

Deciding between Yale 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.

Yale University
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Yale based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 15,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Yale vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than Cornell ($22,408 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 2.4% lower than at Yale University ($19,428 vs. $19,900).
  • Cornell University is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $2,064 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Cornell than at Yale University (about $2,064 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Cornell University (56% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($65,892 vs. $61,779).

Yale vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 20 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale 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: Yale University 1470/1570; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Yale vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $20,000 more per year than Cornell graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $98,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Yale graduates ($12,000 vs. $13,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Yale graduates ($124 vs. $139).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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.