Cornell University vs New York University: A Data-Driven Comparison
Admission Difficulty: Cornell proves significantly more selective with a 7.47% acceptance rate compared to NYU's 12.46%, making Cornell nearly twice as competitive for admission.
Cost and Value: Cornell's sticker price runs higher at $66,014 versus NYU's $60,438, but Cornell delivers better financial aid with an average net price of $32,337 compared to NYU's $35,035. Cornell graduates carry less debt ($14,000 vs $20,500) and earn substantially more ten years post-graduation ($104,043 vs $82,509).
Academic Strengths: Cornell offers a lower student-faculty ratio at 9:1 compared to NYU's 8:1, though both provide small class environments. Cornell excels in engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine, while NYU leads in business, film, and performing arts programs.
Campus Experience: Cornell's 15,935 students experience a traditional college town atmosphere in Ithaca with NCAA Division I athletics and strong campus traditions. NYU's 29,430 students enjoy an urban campus integrated into Manhattan with NCAA Division III sports and extensive city internship opportunities.
Outcomes: Cornell demonstrates superior retention (97.82% vs 95.50%) and graduation rates (95.10% vs 88.50%), indicating stronger student success metrics across the board.
Cornell suits students seeking a traditional college experience with strong STEM programs and higher earning potential, while NYU fits students who thrive in urban environments and pursue creative or business fields with immediate professional networking opportunities.
Admission Difficulty: Cornell proves significantly more selective with a 7.47% acceptance rate compared to NYU's 12.46%, making Cornell nearly twice as competitive for admission.
Cost and Value: Cornell's sticker price runs higher at $66,014 versus NYU's $60,438, but Cornell delivers better financial aid with an average net price of $32,337 compared to NYU's $35,035. Cornell graduates carry less debt ($14,000 vs $20,500) and earn substantially more ten years post-graduation ($104,043 vs $82,509).
Academic Strengths: Cornell offers a lower student-faculty ratio at 9:1 compared to NYU's 8:1, though both provide small class environments. Cornell excels in engineering, agriculture, and veterinary medicine, while NYU leads in business, film, and performing arts programs.
Campus Experience: Cornell's 15,935 students experience a traditional college town atmosphere in Ithaca with NCAA Division I athletics and strong campus traditions. NYU's 29,430 students enjoy an urban campus integrated into Manhattan with NCAA Division III sports and extensive city internship opportunities.
Outcomes: Cornell demonstrates superior retention (97.82% vs 95.50%) and graduation rates (95.10% vs 88.50%), indicating stronger student success metrics across the board.
Cornell suits students seeking a traditional college experience with strong STEM programs and higher earning potential, while NYU fits students who thrive in urban environments and pursue creative or business fields with immediate professional networking opportunities.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Cornell University | New York University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 7.5% | 12.5% |
| SAT Average | 1,520 | 1,520 |
| Enrollment | 15,935 | 29,430 |
| In-State Tuition | $66,014 | $60,438 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $66,014 | $60,438 |
| Net Price | $32,337 | $35,035 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 95.1% | 88.5% |
| Retention Rate | 97.8% | 95.5% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $104,043 | $82,509 |
| Median Debt | $14,000 | $20,500 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| Cornell University | New York University | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Computer Science. | $122,485 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $94,243 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $92,277 | Mathematics and Statistics, Other. | $86,424 |
| Mathematics. | $91,211 | Finance and Financial Management Services. | $84,653 |
| Operations Research. | $85,538 | Business/Commerce, General. | $82,507 |
| Chemical Engineering. | $83,351 | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $79,957 |