Cornell vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Cornell admits 8.4% of applicants, while Virginia admits 16.8%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Cornell: 10.3% of students against 4.9% (Virginia).
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), Virginia does not.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Cornell starts at $96,268 against $80,859 and ends at $32,043 against $43,736 (Virginia).
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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 16.81% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #201-300). Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $87K). Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 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 Virginia for: a higher graduation rate, 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 16.81% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1470).
Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $87K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 95.4%).
Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($62,923 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $37,123).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Cornell | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #12 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | #20 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 8.41% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 63.9% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 65,612 | 58,951 |
| International students | 10.3% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $166K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 95.4% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $72,270 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $64,225 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,441 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | $80 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 26,793 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Cornell or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.41% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Cornell or Virginia graduates earn more?
Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $87K.
How much is tuition at Cornell vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,270 per year at Cornell and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Cornell and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Cornell or Virginia?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Cornell or Virginia?
The average aid package is $64,225 at Cornell and $37,123 at Virginia.
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