Cornell vs. Providence

Deciding between Cornell University and Providence College? 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
Providence College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Providence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Providence 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Providence 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Providence 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Providence $68,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Providence 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Providence $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Providence $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Providence 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Providence 90%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Providence based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Providence College 11:1.

Cornell vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Providence? 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 Providence ($26,361 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 8.2% lower than at Cornell University ($17,840 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Providence (about $5,764 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at Cornell than at Providence College (about $5,764 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Cornell University (83% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 93.8% larger than aid received by Providence College students ($61,779 vs. $31,873).

Cornell vs. Providence Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 220 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Providence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Providence (3.47).
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (50.9%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Cornell vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Providence? 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 Providence College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $30,400 more per year than Providence graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $68,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($12,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($124 vs. $279).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence 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.