Cornell University
ITHACA, NEW YORK
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
AMHERST, MA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Cornell vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - US university comparison

Cornell University
CORNELL
Ithaca, New York
World rank · ARWU#12
Acceptance8.41%
Median SAT1540
Graduation rate95.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$104K
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Amherst, MA
World rank · ARWU#501-600
Acceptance63.5%
Median SAT1456
Graduation rate83.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Cornell University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
#12 World rank · ARWU #501-600
#20 Rank · THE -
8.41% Acceptance rate 63.5%
1540 Median SAT 1456
95.4% Graduation rate 83.6%
26,793 Enrollment 7,042

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

8.41% Acceptance rate 63.5%
63.9% Yield rate 14.4%
1540 Median SAT 1456
- Avg. GPA 3.93
65,612 Number of applications 14,356
10.3% Int'l students 2.2%
$104K Median earnings · 10 yrs $102K
$67K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $71K
$166K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $137K
95.4% Graduation rate 83.6%
98.1% Retention rate 91%
$14,000 Median debt $23,750
$72,270 Tuition · year $67,976
$64,225 Avg. aid package $50,402
100% % of need met 66.2%
$29,441 Avg. graduate debt $39,539
$80 Application fee $70
$84,351 Avg. int'l aid $48,307
At a glance
Cornell leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance8.41% vs 63.5%
Yield63.9% vs 14.4%
Debt$14,000 vs $23,750

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Cornell admits 8.4% of applications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits 63.5%.

The more international environment is at Cornell (10.3% international students) than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2.2%).

For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Cornell awards international students $84,351 on average, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute awards $48,307.

84 points separate the SAT profiles: 1540 (Cornell) against 1456.

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 63.5% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #501-600). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($104K vs $102K). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for: lower tuition.

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

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Cornell is more selective (8.41% vs 63.5% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1456).

Graduate outcomes

Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $102K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 83.6%).

Cost and aid

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,976 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $50,402).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kCornellRensselaer Polytechnic Institute TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Cornell and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Cornell Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
World rank · ARWU#12#501-600
Rank · THE#20-
Acceptance rate8.41%63.5%
Yield rate63.9%14.4%
Median SAT15401456
Avg. GPA-3.93
Number of applications65,61214,356
International students10.3%2.2%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$104K$102K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$67K$71K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$166K$137K
Graduation rate95.4%83.6%
Retention rate98.1%91%
Median debt$14,000$23,750
Tuition · year$72,270$67,976
Avg. aid package$64,225$50,402
% of need met100%66.2%
Avg. graduate debt$29,441$39,539
Application fee$80$70
Enrollment26,7937,042

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Cornell or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.41% of applicants, while Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts 63.5%.

Do Cornell or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?

Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $104K at Cornell and $102K at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

How much is tuition at Cornell vs Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Sticker-price tuition is $72,270 per year at Cornell and $67,976 per year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

What SAT score do you need for Cornell or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Cornell and 1456 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Cornell or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #501-600 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Which university offers more financial aid - Cornell or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

The average aid package is $64,225 at Cornell and $50,402 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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.