USC vs. Cornell

Deciding between University of Southern California 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 Southern California
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than Cornell based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 26,793 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; Cornell University 9:1.

USC vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC 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 USC ($26,361 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 2.5% lower than at University of Southern California ($19,428 vs. $19,931).
  • University of Southern California is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornell (about $2,783 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at USC than at Cornell University (about $2,783 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $69,314.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Cornell University (70% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 31.7% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($61,779 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC 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 USC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 40 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 1450/1550; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 32/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at USC (3.83).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

USC vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC 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 Southern California's (90%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $12,900 more per year than USC graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $85,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $10,375 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($12,000 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $107 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($124 vs. $231).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 81%)

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.