NYU vs. Cornell

Deciding between New York 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.

New York University
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 42%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • NYU 58%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New York University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: New York University 8:1; Cornell University 9:1.

NYU vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 Cornell University than NYU ($26,361 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 17.4% lower than at New York University ($19,428 vs. $23,530).
  • Cornell University is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $6,518 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.4% higher at Cornell than at New York University (about $6,518 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at New York University (48% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 14.6% larger than aid received by New York University students ($61,779 vs. $53,901).

NYU vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 20 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming NYU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Cornell (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • 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 NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

NYU vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $22,400 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $11,250 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($12,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($124 vs. $240).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.