Cornell University
ITHACA, NEW YORK
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, NC
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Cornell vs North carolina — 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
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINA
Chapel Hill, NC
World rank · ARWU#35
Acceptance15.3%
Median SAT1439
Graduation rate91.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$72K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Cornell University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
#12 World rank · ARWU #35
#20 Rank · THE #70
8.8% Acceptance rate 15.3%
1535 Median SAT 1439
95.4% Graduation rate 91.2%
19,027 Enrollment 32,680

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

8.8% Acceptance rate 15.3%
66% Yield rate 45.5%
1535 Median SAT 1439
— Avg. GPA 4.50
67,846 Number of applications 66,535
26% Int'l students 9%
$104K Median earnings · 10 yrs $72K
$101K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $69K
$166K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $112K
95.4% Graduation rate 91.2%
97.8% Retention rate 96.6%
$14,000 Median debt $14,000
$69,314 Tuition · year $41,203
$62,257 Avg. aid package $20,705
100% % of need met 100%
$27,244 Avg. graduate debt $20,382
— Application fee $85
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Cornell leads in 7 of 11 measured metrics
Aid$62,257 vs $20,705
Acceptance8.8% vs 15.3%
Tuition$69,314 vs $41,203

EXPERT TAKE

Cornell is the more selective of the two (8.8% vs 15.3% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #35). Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $72K). North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 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 North carolina for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Cornell is more selective (8.8% vs 15.3% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1535 vs 1439).

Graduate outcomes

Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $72K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 91.2%).

Cost and aid

North carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($41,203 vs $69,314); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($62,257 vs $20,705).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

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

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Cornell North carolina
World rank · ARWU#12#35
Rank · THE#20#70
Acceptance rate8.8%15.3%
Yield rate66%45.5%
Median SAT15351439
Avg. GPA—4.50
Number of applications67,84666,535
International students26%9%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$104K$72K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$101K$69K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$166K$112K
Graduation rate95.4%91.2%
Retention rate97.8%96.6%
Median debt$14,000$14,000
Tuition · year$69,314$41,203
Avg. aid package$62,257$20,705
% of need met100%100%
Avg. graduate debt$27,244$20,382
Application fee—$85
Enrollment19,02732,680

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Cornell or North carolina?

It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.8% of applicants, while North carolina accepts 15.3%.

Do Cornell or North carolina graduates earn more?

Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $72K.

How much is tuition at Cornell vs North carolina?

Sticker-price tuition is $69,314 per year at Cornell and $41,203 per year at North carolina.

What SAT score do you need for Cornell or North carolina?

The median admitted SAT score is 1535 at Cornell and 1439 at North carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Cornell or North carolina?

Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #35 for North carolina.

Which university offers more financial aid — Cornell or North carolina?

The average aid package is $62,257 at Cornell and $20,705 at North carolina.

Compare Cornell with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern Duke
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.