Boston College vs Cornell - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Cornell admits 8.4%, Boston College admits 16.2%.
Real money goes to international students at Cornell ($84,351 on average), while Boston College stops at $39,634.
40 points separate the SAT profiles: 1540 (Cornell) against 1500.
The fight for an admitted student is won more often by Cornell: 63.9% of them enrol, against 42.5%.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Cornell is the more selective of the two (8.41% vs 16.19% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #12). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($104K vs $104K). Cornell has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,270 vs $73,508 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Boston College for: lower graduate debt.
Choose Cornell for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Cornell is more selective (8.41% vs 16.19% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1500).
Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $104K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 90.8%).
Cornell has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,270 vs $73,508); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $61,753).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Boston College | Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #12 |
| Rank · THE | - | #20 |
| Acceptance rate | 16.19% | 8.41% |
| Yield rate | 42.5% | 63.9% |
| Median SAT | 1500 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,779 | 65,612 |
| International students | 6.6% | 10.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $68K | $67K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $162K | $166K |
| Graduation rate | 90.8% | 95.4% |
| Retention rate | 96% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $73,508 | $72,270 |
| Avg. aid package | $61,753 | $64,225 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $24,892 | $29,441 |
| Application fee | - | $80 |
| Enrollment | 14,726 | 26,793 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Boston College or Cornell?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Boston College accepts 16.19% of applicants, while Cornell accepts 8.41%.
Do Boston College or Cornell graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $104K at Boston College and $104K at Cornell.
How much is tuition at Boston College vs Cornell?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,508 per year at Boston College and $72,270 per year at Cornell.
What SAT score do you need for Boston College or Cornell?
The median admitted SAT score is 1500 at Boston College and 1540 at Cornell; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Boston College or Cornell?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for Boston College vs #12 for Cornell.
Which university offers more financial aid - Boston College or Cornell?
The average aid package is $61,753 at Boston College and $64,225 at Cornell.
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