Cornell vs University of Southern California (USC)
Cornell University and the University of Southern California (USC) stand as two prominent institutions of higher learning, each offering a distinct educational experience. Cornell, nestled in the scenic town of Ithaca, New York, boasts an acceptance rate of 10.3%, while USC, located in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California, has a slightly higher acceptance rate of 11%. Both universities attract a diverse student body, with Cornell's undergraduate population comprising 49% female and 51% male students, and USC's undergraduate population consisting of 52% female and 48% male students. While Cornell's popular majors include Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Business, USC's popular majors encompass Cinematic Arts, Business, and Communication. With graduation rates of 91% and 89% respectively, both universities ensure that their students receive the necessary support to succeed academically. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a
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![]() Cornell University |
![]() University of Southern California |
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Overview |
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Location | Ithaca, New York | Los Angeles, California |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | 96.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.7% | 12.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
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Undergraduate:
$85
Graduate:
$90
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SAT range | 1450 - 1560 | 1410 - 1540 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 41.0% | 31.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 19.0% |
Total number of applicants | 67,380 | 71,031 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,852 | 8,884 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,718 | 3,668 |
Yield rate | 63.5% | 41.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $80,287 | $81,659 |
Average net price | $24,262 | $26,021 |
Tuition | $60,286 | $60,446 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,962
Meal plan:
$6,434
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Room/dormitory:
$10,098
Meal plan:
$6,634
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
50.0%
Average amount $52,674 |
72.0%
Average amount $40,690 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $3,924 |
22.0%
Average amount $4,215 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $8,357 |
2.0%
Average amount $29,056 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
15,503
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
20,790
Men 48.5% Women 51.5% |
Graduate students |
10,079
Men 51.0% Women 49.0% |
28,528
Men 44.3% Women 55.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 64.3% | 49.9% |
International students | 24.4% | 23.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 7,422 | 8,700 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California New Jersey Florida Pennsylvania | California Texas New York Illinois Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 94.1% | 92.0% |
Dropout rate | 5.2% | 7.2% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Operations Research (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
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Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Real Estate Development (Master's Degrees)
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Compare Similar Colleges
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