Tufts vs Cornell - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Cornell admits 8.4% of applicants, while Tufts admits 11.5%.
Ten years on, graduates of Cornell earn noticeably more: $104K against $83K.
30 points separate the SAT profiles: 1540 (Cornell) against 1510.
Students admitted to both more often choose Cornell (63.9% enrol, against 45.5%).
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 11.49% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #12). Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $83K). Cornell has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,270 vs $73,616 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 Tufts for: 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 11.49% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1510).
Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $83K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 93.5%).
Cornell has lower sticker-price tuition ($72,270 vs $73,616); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $59,574).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Tufts | Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #12 |
| Rank · THE | #179 | #20 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.49% | 8.41% |
| Yield rate | 45.5% | 63.9% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 34,432 | 65,612 |
| International students | 12.5% | 10.3% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $83K | $104K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $47K | $67K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $132K | $166K |
| Graduation rate | 93.5% | 95.4% |
| Retention rate | 95.5% | 98.1% |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $73,616 | $72,270 |
| Avg. aid package | $59,574 | $64,225 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $25,584 | $29,441 |
| Application fee | - | $80 |
| Enrollment | 13,599 | 26,793 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Tufts or Cornell?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Tufts accepts 11.49% of applicants, while Cornell accepts 8.41%.
Do Tufts or Cornell graduates earn more?
Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $83K.
How much is tuition at Tufts vs Cornell?
Sticker-price tuition is $73,616 per year at Tufts and $72,270 per year at Cornell.
What SAT score do you need for Tufts or Cornell?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Tufts and 1540 at Cornell; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Tufts or Cornell?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Tufts vs #12 for Cornell.
Which university offers more financial aid - Tufts or Cornell?
The average aid package is $59,574 at Tufts and $64,225 at Cornell.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina