Cornerstone University vs Elmhurst University

Cornerstone University and Elmhurst University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Cornerstone, a private Christian university, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on faith-based education, while Elmhurst, a private liberal arts university, emphasizes academic excellence and global engagement. With Cornerstone's acceptance rate standing at 75% compared to Elmhurst's 70%, both universities offer accessible admission opportunities. While Cornerstone's student body is predominantly White (79%) and female (59%), Elmhurst's student population is more diverse, with a larger international student presence. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your choice of higher education.
Cornerstone University logo

Cornerstone University

Elmhurst University logo

Elmhurst University

Overview

Location Grand Rapids, Michigan Elmhurst, Illinois
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 97.0% 76.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Interdenominational Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.3% 71.3%
Application fees
SAT range 970 - 1220 1013 - 1220
ACT range 20 - 25 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 69.0% 29.0%
Students submitting ACT score 36.0% 9.0%
Total number of applicants 1,923 3,762
Total number of admissions given out 1,756 2,682
Admitted students who chose to enroll 376 531
Yield rate 21.4% 19.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $41,010 $55,536
Average net price $20,780 $24,018
Tuition $27,040 $39,100
Room & board $10,310
Room/dormitory: $6,428

Meal plan: $4,544
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $16,518
99.0%
Average amount $25,993
Students receiving federal student loan 63.0%
Average amount $6,916
65.0%
Average amount $5,287
Students taking out private loans 12.0%
Average amount $11,888
9.0%
Average amount $15,454

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,507
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
2,914
Men 38.5% Women 61.5%
Graduate students 423
Men 45.6% Women 54.4%
604
Men 33.8% Women 66.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 6.2% 2.2%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 780 964
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Theology
  • Psychology
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.0% 68.4%
Dropout rate 41.0% 31.6%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,236
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $68,578
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,545
  • Year 2: $46,924
  • Year 3: $49,548
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,833
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $40,250
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,175
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $30,492
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,124
  • Year 2: $32,162
  • Year 3: $30,082
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,632
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $23,464
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,707
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,464
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,145
  • Year 2: $25,774
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,839
  • Year 2: $81,997
  • Year 3: $88,790
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,792
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $86,731
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,229
  • Year 2: $63,832
  • Year 3: $66,861
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,535
  • Year 2: $54,209
  • Year 3: $65,150
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,244
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $64,665
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,014
  • Year 2: $51,690
  • Year 3: $60,665
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $59,776
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,970
  • Year 2: $36,401
  • Year 3: $54,414
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,672
  • Year 2: $45,383
  • Year 3: $54,289
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,194
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $48,489

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