Cornell vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Cornell admits 8.4% of applicants, while North Carolina admits 15.3%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Cornell reports aid for international students ($84,351 on average), North Carolina does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Cornell starts at $96,268 against $60,888 and ends at $32,043 against $40,183 (North Carolina).
Ten years on, graduates of Cornell earn noticeably more: $104K against $72K.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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 15.34% 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 ($45,228 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 North Carolina 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 15.34% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
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%).
North Carolina has lower sticker-price tuition ($45,228 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $20,705).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Cornell | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #12 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | #20 | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 8.41% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 63.9% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 65,612 | 66,535 |
| International students | 10.3% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $166K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 95.4% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $72,270 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $64,225 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,441 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | $80 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 26,793 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Cornell or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.41% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
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 $72,270 per year at Cornell and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Cornell and 1470 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 $64,225 at Cornell and $20,705 at North Carolina.
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