BC vs. Cornell

Deciding between Boston College 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.

Boston College
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 15,432 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Cornell University 9:1.

BC vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC 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 Cornell University than BC ($26,361 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 2.6% lower than at Cornell University ($18,916 vs. $19,428).
  • Boston College is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell (about $1,388 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at BC than at Cornell University (about $1,388 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at Boston College (48% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($61,779 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC 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 BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 50 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC 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: Boston College 1440/1540; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

BC vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC 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 Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $90,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($12,000 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($124 vs. $196).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 87%)

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.