Brown University vs Cornell University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Net Price

Brown University is the more selective of the two, admitting 5.7% of applicants versus 8.4% at Cornell University. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $12,228 per year at Brown University versus $16,171 at Cornell University. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1480–1560 at Brown University and 1510–1560 at Cornell University.

Brown University vs Cornell University: admissions and cost statistics from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard
MetricBrown UniversityCornell University
Overall acceptance rate5.7%8.4%
Early acceptance rate17.9%11.6%
SAT middle 50%1480–15601510–1560
Avg unweighted GPA3.933.9
Yield rate73.1%64.0%
Class size1,7003,500
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income$12,228$16,171
Net price, over $110,000 income$44,737$45,325

Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.

Frequently asked questions

Is Brown University harder to get into than Cornell University?

Yes. Brown University admits 5.7% of applicants, compared with 8.4% at Cornell University, making it the harder school to get into, based on the most recent Common Data Set.

Which is cheaper for a middle-income family, Brown University or Cornell University?

For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $12,228 per year at Brown University and $16,171 at Cornell University, so Brown University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

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