Cornell University vs Columbia University

Life at Columbia University is quintessentially New York, a student spends time in the hustle-bustle of NY city, live outside the campus having access to the finest business environment. On the other hand, Cornell is based in Ithaca, a typical New England town out of a picture book. Student forms part of the big university town at least 4 hours away from NY city.

Overview Comparison
Cornell UniversityColumbia University
Collegedunia Score7.9 Out of 108.4 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 12 US News 2024
# 13 QS World University 2024
# 20 Times Higher Education 2024
# 12 US News 2024
# 17 Times Higher Education 2024
# 23 QS World University 2024
Subject Strength# 13 for Engineering by US News 2024
# 10 for Medicine by US News 2024
# 13 for Law by US News 2024
# 17 for Engineering by US News 2024
# 4 for Medicine by US News 2024
# 4 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
ProgramsUG Programs -65
PG Programs -71
Doctorate Programs -78
UG Programs -23
PG Programs -58
Doctorate Programs -7
Acceptance Rate14.1 %7.0 %
Exam ScoreGMAT - 720
IELTS - 7.5
SAT - 1400
TOEFL - 100
GMAT - 680
IELTS - 7
SAT - 1410
TOEFL - 100
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   58586
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  29500
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 35291 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   58440
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  53040
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 10416 Per Year
placement (average package)

Cornell University is one of the top private universities in Ithaca, United States. It is ranked #20 in QS World University Rankings 2023.

Doctorate               $168,000 

Masters in Finance $150,000 

MBA                       $145,000 

Executive MBA       $139,000 

Masters in Science    $123,000 

PhD                            $120,000 


Columbia University is one of the top private universities in New York City, United States. It is ranked #22 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Ranked #18 in Graduate Employability Rank

Base Salaries by the following degrees:

Bachelor (Other):  $500,000 

Other Degree:  $280,000 

Doctorate:  $200,000 

Executive MBA:  $175,000 

MBA: $150,000 

Executive Masters:  $147,000 


application requirements

Counselor recommendation, teacher evaluation, and midyear evaluations are mandatory along with the applications. 

Academic transcripts, 2-3 LORs, SOPs/ Essays, Resume, School report, Standardized tests, Proof of English language proficiency, Additional requirements (work experience, interview, research proposal, etc.)

Campuses and B-SchoolsJohnson Graduate School of Management
Teachers College at Columbia University
Columbia Business School
CollegeDunia Reviews7.9/10 Read 8 reviews7.6/10 Read 11 reviews
General Facts Comparison
General FactsCornell UniversityColumbia University
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1865
1754
Student:Faculty Ratio10:1
6:1
Male:Female48% Male, 52% Female52% Male, 48% Female
Location Facts

University has 6 campuses; Main campus is located in Ithaca, New York; Other campuses are in Roosevelt Island, Qatar, Geneva, Washington DC and Rome


Lies in the heart of NYC on Broadway and two faculties located outside Manhattan.
Main campus occupies more than six city blocks in Morningside Heights.
Landmark includes National Historic Landmarks, including the Philosophy Hall or ‘the site of the invention of the FM radio’


Library

11th largest library in USA; Over 8 million printed volumes, 1 million ebooks, 120,000 periodical titles, 8.5 million microfilms and microfiches, 71,000 cubic feet of manuscripts, 500,000 other materials such as motion pictures, sound recordings, etc. 


The low memorial library is a landmark. The university owns around 23 libraries scattered across the city. 
Resources in over 450 languages, Collection of 13 million volumes, 160,000 journals and other electronic resources.


Campus Life

Over 1,000 student organizations; awards and funding by Student and Campus Life (SCL) such as Cornell Commitment, Public Service Center, Cornell Career Services, Merrill Presidential Scholars Program, etc. 


Art Gallery
Theatre
Public Outdoor Sculpture
Various Cafe
St. Paul’s Chapel

The university offers it all!!!


Hostel#Triple Room - $10635
#Double Room - $11562
#Single Room - $13094
#First-Year Residents - $10416
Famous Alumni

Tsai Ing-wen (first female president of Taiwan), David Starr Jordan (founding president of Stanford University), Ratan Tata (CEO of Tata Group), Toni Morrison (Nobel laureate), Junot Diaz (Pulitzer Prize winner)


Barak Obama (Former US President), Alexander Hamilton (founding father of USA), Alicia Keys (singer), Sara Ali Khan (actress), Dorothy Irene Height (Women rights activist), Jake Gyllenhall (actor).


City Life

New York was ranked 34th in USA for economic growth and contributes over 8% to GDP. Financial activities, professional & business services, transportation, trade & utilities are the top contributors. 


Total international students in NY- 11%
New York houses almost 100 public libraries
800,000+ restaurants and cafes in New York
180 public parks throughout the city
Subway system- Operates 24/7, is a cost-effective, quick, and easy


Weather
Comparison Notes

Cornell University and Columbia University are two of the most selective universities in USA with acceptance rates below 15% and have reserved top positions for themselves in the exclusive list of Ivy League Colleges. This choosing which one is right for you is a difficult choice to make.

  • International enrollment at Columbia stands at 15,000+ students and scholars from over 156 countries are admitted to Columbia, while at Cornell is 7,000+ from over 100 countries. 

  • As per statistics, getting into Columbia University is slightly difficult than Cornell. Columbia has more expensive average tuition fees $61,788 than Cornell $57,222 but the average financial aid provided by the former is $41,752 which is higher than Cornell’s $39,868 financial aid.

  • Though both the universities are located in New York, location differences are stark. If you prefer an upbeat city and nightlife, Columbia should be your choice as it is located in the heart of NY City. On the other hand, if a student prefers staying away from the mayhem of urban noises Cornell, located in Ithaca should be your preference.

  • The faculty of both the institutes is no doubt one of the finest globally, but student to faculty ratio at Columbia ups the mark. Library of both the institutes defines them to be listed in the premier institutes but the collection at Cornell is much bulkier than the other university.

  • The decision to pin down on an institute depends on the kind of program one wants to opt for. As per the general belief candidates opting for Science and analytical courses, you are better at Cornell. Advantages of Columbia involve curriculum in Business, Law, and Humanities. 

  • Cornell University rankings are higher for engineering & technology, life sciences, computer science while Columbia University rankings are higher for arts & humanities, law, business & management.

  • According to Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2020, Columbia Business School (#8) ranks higher than Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management (#23).

  • Even though the average annual salary of graduates at the universities is the same according to Payscale, Cornell University graduates (6.3%) have a slightly higher annual ROI than Columbia University graduates (6.5%).

  • According to QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020, Cornell University (#12) ranks higher than Columbia University (#21).

From the above points, it can thus be concluded that for students looking for studies in the USA, Cornell University would be the first choice with a comparatively less stringent admission process and a lower cost of study. However, which institute is better is a contextual choice than complex, it totally depends on a student’s perspective and aspirations.