Penn vs Cornell - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Real money goes to international students at Cornell ($84,351 on average), while Penn stops at $75,356.
Both universities turn away more than nine applicants in ten (5.4% and 8.4%), so the outcome rests on how well your profile fits, not on the admission rate itself.
Tuition is practically the same ($71,236 against $72,270), so financial aid, not the sticker price, will decide the cost.
Both meet assessed financial need in full; the real cost therefore depends on your circumstances, not on tuition.
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
Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 8.41% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #12). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $104K). Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 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 Penn for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Cornell for: a higher world ranking, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 8.41% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $104K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 95.4%).
Penn has lower sticker-price tuition ($71,236 vs $72,270); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $64,225).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #12 |
| Rank · THE | - | #20 |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 8.41% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 63.9% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 65,612 |
| International students | 13.3% | 10.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $67K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $166K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 95.4% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $72,270 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $64,225 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $29,441 |
| Application fee | $75 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 26,793 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Cornell?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Cornell accepts 8.41%.
Do Penn or Cornell graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $104K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Cornell?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $72,270 per year at Cornell.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Cornell?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1540 at Cornell; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Cornell?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #12 for Cornell.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Cornell?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $64,225 at Cornell.
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