Cornell University
ITHACA, NEW YORK
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Cornell vs Njit — US university comparison

Cornell University
CORNELL
Ithaca, New York
World rank · ARWU#12
Acceptance8.8%
Median SAT1535
Graduation rate95.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$104K
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT
Newark, New Jersey
World rank · ARWU#701-800
Acceptance65.1%
Median SAT1337
Graduation rate72.8%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$84K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Cornell University New Jersey Institute of Technology
#12 World rank · ARWU #701-800
#20 Rank · THE —
8.8% Acceptance rate 65.1%
1535 Median SAT 1337
95.4% Graduation rate 72.8%
19,027 Enrollment 13,247

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

8.8% Acceptance rate 65.1%
66% Yield rate 17.2%
1535 Median SAT 1337
— Avg. GPA 3.70
67,846 Number of applications 15,607
26% Int'l students 25%
$104K Median earnings · 10 yrs $84K
$101K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $70K
$166K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $113K
95.4% Graduation rate 72.8%
97.8% Retention rate 90%
$14,000 Median debt $21,000
$69,314 Tuition · year $37,664
$62,257 Avg. aid package $18,661
100% % of need met 0.6%
$27,244 Avg. graduate debt $32,459
— Application fee $75
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Cornell leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
% of need100% vs 0.6%
Acceptance8.8% vs 65.1%
Yield66% vs 17.2%

EXPERT TAKE

Cornell is the more selective of the two (8.8% vs 65.1% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #701-800). Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $84K). Njit has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 vs $69,314 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 Njit for: lower tuition.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Cornell is more selective (8.8% vs 65.1% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1535 vs 1337).

Graduate outcomes

Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $84K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 72.8%).

Cost and aid

Njit has lower sticker-price tuition ($37,664 vs $69,314); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($62,257 vs $18,661).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kCornellNjit TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Cornell and Njit highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Cornell Njit
World rank · ARWU#12#701-800
Rank · THE#20—
Acceptance rate8.8%65.1%
Yield rate66%17.2%
Median SAT15351337
Avg. GPA—3.70
Number of applications67,84615,607
International students26%25%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$104K$84K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$101K$70K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$166K$113K
Graduation rate95.4%72.8%
Retention rate97.8%90%
Median debt$14,000$21,000
Tuition · year$69,314$37,664
Avg. aid package$62,257$18,661
% of need met100%0.6%
Avg. graduate debt$27,244$32,459
Application fee—$75
Enrollment19,02713,247

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Cornell or Njit?

It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.8% of applicants, while Njit accepts 65.1%.

Do Cornell or Njit graduates earn more?

Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $84K.

How much is tuition at Cornell vs Njit?

Sticker-price tuition is $69,314 per year at Cornell and $37,664 per year at Njit.

What SAT score do you need for Cornell or Njit?

The median admitted SAT score is 1535 at Cornell and 1337 at Njit; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Cornell or Njit?

Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #701-800 for Njit.

Which university offers more financial aid — Cornell or Njit?

The average aid package is $62,257 at Cornell and $18,661 at Njit.

Compare Cornell with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern North carolina
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.