College comparison

Columbia vs Cornell

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Columbia New York, NY	Cornell Ithaca, NY
Acceptance rateColumbia University in the City of New York is more selective	4%	9%
SAT (25–75)	1510–1580	1500–1570
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	8,973	15,995
Avg net price	$21,590	$28,690
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Private (nonprofit)
Location	New York, NY	Ithaca, NY

Quick answers

Is Columbia University in the City of New York or Cornell University harder to get into?

Columbia University in the City of New York is more selective: Columbia University in the City of New York's acceptance rate is approximately 4% and Cornell University's is approximately 9% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Columbia University in the City of New York vs Cornell University?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1510–1580 at Columbia University in the City of New York and 1500–1570 at Cornell University. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.