Cornell vs. Princeton vs. Lehigh

Compare Cornell University, Princeton University, and Lehigh University side by side. Review cost and aid, selectivity and test-score context, academics, campus setting, and post-graduation benchmarks to see which option lines up with your goals. Data comes from the same catalog CollegeSimply maintains across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Cornell University
Princeton University
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Princeton #1
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Princeton -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Princeton
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Princeton $68,727
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Princeton 67%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Princeton 1550
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Princeton A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Princeton $77
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Princeton 52%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Princeton Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Princeton No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Princeton 45%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Princeton 22%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Princeton 8%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Princeton 9%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Princeton 4%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Princeton 11%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Princeton 2%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Princeton 14%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Princeton 74%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Princeton based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 9,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. Princeton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Princeton? 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 Princeton University than Cornell ($15,313 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 4.1% lower than at Princeton University ($19,428 vs. $20,250).
  • Cornell University is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $6,626 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Cornell than at Princeton University (about $6,626 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Princeton University than at Cornell University (67% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 11.2% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($68,727 vs. $61,779).

Cornell vs. Princeton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell or Princeton? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Princeton and Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Cornell (1540).
  • Incoming Cornell students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 34) as students at Princeton (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Cornell University 1500/1570; Princeton University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Cornell University 33/35; Princeton University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Princeton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Princeton Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Princeton students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 75.5% at Princeton.

Cornell vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Princeton? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Cornell graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $98,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Cornell graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell graduates ($77 vs. $124).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.