Cornell vs. UVA

Deciding between Cornell University and University of Virginia Main Campus? 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 of Virginia Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • UVA Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • UVA 26,409
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • UVA #58
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • UVA -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • UVA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • UVA $21,803
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • UVA $59,512
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • UVA $14,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • UVA $18,427
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • UVA $28,715
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • UVA 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • UVA 58,951
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • UVA 9,909
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • UVA 40%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • UVA 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • UVA 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • UVA 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • UVA A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • UVA Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • UVA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • UVA 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • UVA Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • UVA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • UVA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • UVA 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • UVA $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • UVA 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • UVA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • UVA $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • UVA 45%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • UVA 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • UVA Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • UVA No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • UVA 60%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • UVA 13%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • UVA 5%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • UVA 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • UVA 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • UVA 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • UVA 29%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than UVA based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 26,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

Cornell vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or UVA? 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 Virginia Main Campus than Cornell ($18,427 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 23.8% lower than at Cornell University ($14,800 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 217.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVA (about $47,511 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $21,803.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.5% higher at Cornell than at University of Virginia Main Campus (about $9,802 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $59,512.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at University of Virginia Main Campus (48% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 115.1% larger than aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students ($61,779 vs. $28,715).

Cornell vs. UVA Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 60 points higher than at UVA (1480).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at UVA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; UVA - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at UVA (3.85).
  • UVA has a higher acceptance rate (16.8%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 40% at UVA.

Cornell vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and UVA? 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).

  • University of Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than UVA graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than UVA graduates ($12,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UVA graduates ($124 vs. $201).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UVA students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)

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.