Tufts vs. Cornell

Deciding between Tufts 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.

Tufts University
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Tufts vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts 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 Tufts ($26,361 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tufts University are 4.3% lower than at Cornell University ($18,588 vs. $19,428).
  • Tufts University is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell (about $1,390 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at Tufts than at Cornell University (about $1,390 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at Tufts University (48% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Tufts University students ($61,779 vs. $55,933).

Tufts vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tufts 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 Tufts.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 20 points higher than at Tufts (1520).
  • Incoming Tufts 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: Tufts University 1470/1560; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • Tufts has a higher acceptance rate (11.5%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Tufts vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts 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 Tufts University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $15,300 more per year than Tufts graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Tufts graduates ($12,000 vs. $18,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tufts graduates ($124 vs. $186).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 87%)

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.