North Carolina vs Cornell - 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 (#35 vs #12). 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 North Carolina for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Cornell for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
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 | North Carolina | Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #35 | #12 |
| Rank · THE | #70 | #20 |
| Acceptance rate | 15.34% | 8.41% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 63.9% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.49 | - |
| Number of applications | 66,535 | 65,612 |
| International students | 6.4% | 10.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $72K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $48K | $67K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $112K | $166K |
| Graduation rate | 91.2% | 95.4% |
| Retention rate | 96.6% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $45,228 | $72,270 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,705 | $64,225 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,382 | $29,441 |
| Application fee | $85 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 32,680 | 26,793 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into North Carolina or Cornell?
It's harder to get into Cornell. North Carolina accepts 15.34% of applicants, while Cornell accepts 8.41%.
Do North Carolina or Cornell graduates earn more?
Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at North Carolina vs Cornell?
Sticker-price tuition is $45,228 per year at North Carolina and $72,270 per year at Cornell.
What SAT score do you need for North Carolina or Cornell?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at North Carolina and 1540 at Cornell; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - North Carolina or Cornell?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #35 for North Carolina vs #12 for Cornell.
Which university offers more financial aid - North Carolina or Cornell?
The average aid package is $20,705 at North Carolina and $64,225 at Cornell.
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