UConn vs. Cornell

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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.

University of Connecticut
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Connecticut is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (28,306 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; Cornell University 9:1.

UConn vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 University of Connecticut than Cornell ($25,310 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 26% lower than at Cornell University ($14,380 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 229.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $48,270 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.6% higher at Cornell than at University of Connecticut (about $25,602 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Cornell University (81% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 274.4% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($61,779 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 210 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

UConn vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 University of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $36,400 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($12,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($124 vs. $222).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 78%)

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.