Cornell vs Georgia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Cornell admits 8.4% of applicants, while Georgia admits 37.9%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 10.3% (Cornell) against 1.1% (Georgia).
Georgia reports no financial aid for international students, while Cornell awards them $84,351 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The tuition gap is $40,592 a year: $31,678 (Georgia) against $72,270.
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 37.92% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #401-500). Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $69K). Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 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 Georgia 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 37.92% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1300).
Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $69K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 89.7%).
Georgia has lower sticker-price tuition ($31,678 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $15,348).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Cornell | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #12 | #401-500 |
| Rank · THE | #20 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 8.41% | 37.92% |
| Yield rate | 63.9% | 38.3% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1300 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.15 |
| Number of applications | 65,612 | 42,436 |
| International students | 10.3% | 1.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $69K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $45K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $166K | $102K |
| Graduation rate | 95.4% | 89.7% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 94.3% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $18,500 |
| Tuition · year | $72,270 | $31,678 |
| Avg. aid package | $64,225 | $15,348 |
| % of need met | 100% | 73.2% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,441 | $20,890 |
| Application fee | $80 | $70 |
| Enrollment | 26,793 | 43,146 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Cornell or Georgia?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.41% of applicants, while Georgia accepts 37.92%.
Do Cornell or Georgia graduates earn more?
Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $69K.
How much is tuition at Cornell vs Georgia?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,270 per year at Cornell and $31,678 per year at Georgia.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell or Georgia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Cornell and 1300 at Georgia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Cornell or Georgia?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #401-500 for Georgia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Cornell or Georgia?
The average aid package is $64,225 at Cornell and $15,348 at Georgia.
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