Cornell vs. University at Albany- SUNY

Deciding between Cornell University and University at Albany? 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
University at Albany

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • University at Albany- SUNY Albany, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • University at Albany- SUNY Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • University at Albany- SUNY 17,560
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • University at Albany- SUNY Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • University at Albany- SUNY #223
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • University at Albany- SUNY -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • University at Albany- SUNY Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • University at Albany- SUNY

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • University at Albany- SUNY $10,866
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • University at Albany- SUNY $31,256
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • University at Albany- SUNY $16,423
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • University at Albany- SUNY $17,949
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • University at Albany- SUNY $11,210
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • University at Albany- SUNY 32,442
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 69.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • University at Albany- SUNY 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • University at Albany- SUNY B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • University at Albany- SUNY Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • University at Albany- SUNY Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22/31
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1120/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • University at Albany- SUNY Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • University at Albany- SUNY
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • University at Albany- SUNY $55,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • University at Albany- SUNY $21,065
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • University at Albany- SUNY $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 44%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • University at Albany- SUNY High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 49%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 8%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 15%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cornell Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cornell No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cornell Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cornell No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cornell No
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than University at Albany- SUNY based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 17,560 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); University at Albany is in Albany, NY (Small City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Albany is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; University at Albany 16:1.

Cornell vs. University at Albany- SUNY Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany than Cornell ($17,949 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Albany are 15.5% lower than at Cornell University ($16,423 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 537.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than University at Albany- SUNY (about $58,448 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $10,866.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 121.8% higher at Cornell than at University at Albany (about $38,058 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $31,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Albany than at Cornell University (96% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 451.1% larger than aid received by University at Albany students ($61,779 vs. $11,210).

Cornell vs. University at Albany- SUNY Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY and Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 320 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1220).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at University at Albany- SUNY).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; University at Albany 1120/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; University at Albany 22/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3).
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY.

Cornell vs. University at Albany- SUNY Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany's (64%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $42,600 more per year than University at Albany- SUNY graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $55,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $9,065 lower median loan debt than University at Albany- SUNY graduates ($12,000 vs. $21,065).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University at Albany- SUNY graduates ($124 vs. $217).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University at Albany- SUNY students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

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.