Cornell vs. Duke

Deciding between Cornell University and Duke 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.

Cornell University
Duke University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Duke 17,499
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Duke #2
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Duke

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Duke $68,758
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Duke $68,758
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Duke $18,128
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Duke $21,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Duke $65,522
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Duke 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Duke 51,795
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Duke 2,957
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Duke 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Duke 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Duke 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Duke A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Duke Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Duke Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Duke 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Duke Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Duke 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Duke 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Duke $108,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Duke 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Duke $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Duke $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Duke 44%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Duke 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Duke Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Duke No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Duke 46%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Duke 22%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Duke 7%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Duke 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Duke 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Duke 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Duke 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Duke 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Duke 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Duke 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with Duke University in Durham, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 17,499 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Duke? 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 Duke University than Cornell ($21,981 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duke University are 6.7% lower than at Cornell University ($18,128 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Duke (about $556 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Cornell than at Duke University (about $556 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at Duke University (48% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($65,522 vs. $61,779).

Cornell vs. Duke Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell or Duke? 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 Duke and Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is the same as at Duke (1540).
  • Incoming Cornell students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Duke (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Duke University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Duke University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Duke - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Duke Jan 3, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 58.8% at Duke.

Cornell vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Duke? 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).

  • Duke University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Cornell graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $98,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Cornell graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell graduates ($77 vs. $124).
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.