Harvard vs. Cornell

Deciding between Harvard University and Cornell University? 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.

Harvard University
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Harvard vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Cornell? 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 Harvard University than Cornell ($17,525 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 8.3% lower than at Harvard University ($19,428 vs. $21,190).
  • Cornell University is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $7,638 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Cornell than at Harvard University (about $7,638 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Cornell University (56% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 10.1% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($68,015 vs. $61,779).

Harvard vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Cornell (1540).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Cornell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Cornell has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Harvard vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Cornell? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Cornell University's (93%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $38,300 more per year than Cornell graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $98,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Cornell graduates ($6,500 vs. $12,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell graduates ($67 vs. $124).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard 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.