UMass vs. Cornell

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UMass vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst than Cornell ($22,948 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 14% lower than at Cornell University ($16,710 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 290% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $51,542 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71.4% higher at Cornell than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $28,865 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Cornell University (81% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 371.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($61,779 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 130 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

UMass vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $43,200 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($12,000 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($124 vs. $248).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 76%)

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.