Cornell vs Brandeis - 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%, Brandeis admits 40.5%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 19.3% (Brandeis) against 10.3% (Cornell).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Cornell awards international students $84,351 on average, Brandeis awards $56,730.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Cornell lists $96,268 against $93,441 (Brandeis), but after average aid what remains is $32,043 against $35,934.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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 40.47% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #301-400). Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $77K). Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,957 vs $72,270 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 Cornell for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Brandeis for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Cornell is more selective (8.41% vs 40.47% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1460).
Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $77K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 86%).
Brandeis has lower sticker-price tuition ($70,957 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $57,507).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Cornell | Brandeis |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #12 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #20 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 8.41% | 40.47% |
| Yield rate | 63.9% | 17.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1460 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.90 |
| Number of applications | 65,612 | 10,462 |
| International students | 10.3% | 19.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $77K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $52K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $166K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 95.4% | 86% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 87% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $25,648 |
| Tuition · year | $72,270 | $70,957 |
| Avg. aid package | $64,225 | $57,507 |
| % of need met | 100% | 94.5% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,441 | $27,004 |
| Application fee | $80 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 26,793 | 5,205 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Cornell or Brandeis?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.41% of applicants, while Brandeis accepts 40.47%.
Do Cornell or Brandeis graduates earn more?
Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $77K.
How much is tuition at Cornell vs Brandeis?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,270 per year at Cornell and $70,957 per year at Brandeis.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell or Brandeis?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Cornell and 1460 at Brandeis; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Cornell or Brandeis?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #301-400 for Brandeis.
Which university offers more financial aid - Cornell or Brandeis?
The average aid package is $64,225 at Cornell and $57,507 at Brandeis.
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