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

Princeton University is the more selective of the two, admitting 4.4% of applicants versus 8.4% at Cornell University. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $16,171 per year at Cornell University versus $6,866 at Princeton University. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1490–1550 at Cornell University and 1470–1560 at Princeton University.

Cornell University vs Princeton University: admissions and cost statistics from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard
MetricCornell UniversityPrinceton University
Overall acceptance rate8.4%4.4%
Early acceptance rate18.8%10.5%
SAT middle 50%1490–15501470–1560
Avg unweighted GPA3.93.95
Yield rate63.0%75.0%
Class size3,8271,408
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income$16,171$6,866
Net price, over $110,000 income$45,325$31,526

Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2025–26 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 Cornell University harder to get into than Princeton University?

No. Princeton University is more selective: it admits 4.4% of applicants, versus 8.4% at Cornell University, based on the most recent Common Data Set.

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

For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $16,171 per year at Cornell University and $6,866 at Princeton University, so Princeton University is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

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