Columbia University is the more selective of the two, admitting 3.9% of applicants versus 8.4% at Cornell University. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $8,186 per year at Columbia University versus $16,171 at Cornell University. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1510–1560 at Columbia University and 1510–1560 at Cornell University.
| Metric | Columbia University | Cornell University |
|---|---|---|
| Overall acceptance rate | 3.9% | 8.4% |
| Early acceptance rate | 13.2% | 11.6% |
| SAT middle 50% | 1510–1560 | 1510–1560 |
| Avg unweighted GPA | 3.93 | 3.9 |
| Yield rate | 61.0% | 64.0% |
| Class size | 1,483 | 3,500 |
| Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income | $8,186 | $16,171 |
| Net price, over $110,000 income | $40,538 | $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.
Yes. Columbia University admits 3.9% 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.
For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $8,186 per year at Columbia University and $16,171 at Cornell University, so Columbia University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).
Stats compare the schools — the simulation compares you against each school's applicant pool.
Estimate your chances at Columbia University and Cornell University