Cornell vs. Pitt

Deciding between Cornell University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Cornell University
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 20%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 20%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Cornell vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Pitt? 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 of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than Cornell ($25,223 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 29.9% lower than at Cornell University ($13,620 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 216.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $47,388 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.3% higher at Cornell than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $27,884 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at Cornell University (53% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 274.6% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($61,779 vs. $16,494).

Cornell vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 170 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Pitt).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Pitt (3.79).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 13% at Pitt.

Cornell vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Pitt? 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 of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $40,400 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $14,909 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($12,000 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $154 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($124 vs. $278).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 75%)

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.