Rutgers vs. Cornell

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Cornell University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Rutgers vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Cornell ($20,522 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 19.1% lower than at Cornell University ($15,714 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 286.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $51,385 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 85.1% higher at Cornell than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $31,873 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Cornell University (50% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 269% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($61,779 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 130 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Rutgers vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $32,200 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $10,215 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($12,000 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($124 vs. $229).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

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.