WUSTL vs. Cornell

Deciding between Washington University in St Louis 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.

Washington University in St Louis
Cornell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WUSTL #21
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WUSTL -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WUSTL
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WUSTL 49%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • WUSTL 34
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WUSTL A
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • WUSTL Very High
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WUSTL $205
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WUSTL 47%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WUSTL High
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • WUSTL No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • WUSTL 55%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • WUSTL 19%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • WUSTL 6%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • WUSTL 7%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WUSTL 4%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • WUSTL 8%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WUSTL 2%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WUSTL 15%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WUSTL 73%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO with Cornell University in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than WUSTL based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 16,357 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Washington University in St Louis is located in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Washington University in St Louis 7:1; Cornell University 9:1.

WUSTL vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WUSTL 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 Washington University in St Louis than Cornell ($22,408 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell University are 11.1% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($19,428 vs. $21,854).
  • Cornell University is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WUSTL (about $3,524 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Cornell than at Washington University in St Louis (about $3,524 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington University in St Louis than at Cornell University (49% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 7% larger than aid received by Cornell University students ($66,080 vs. $61,779).

WUSTL vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WUSTL 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 WUSTL .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is the same as at Cornell (1540).
  • Incoming WUSTL 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: Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 33/35; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WUSTL - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (12.1%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at WUSTL vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

WUSTL vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WUSTL 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).

  • The graduation rate at WUSTL is the same as at Cornell University (93% vs. 93%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than WUSTL graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $82,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $7,900 lower median loan debt than WUSTL graduates ($12,000 vs. $19,900).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WUSTL graduates ($124 vs. $205).
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.