Union College vs Cornell
Union College and Cornell University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Union, a liberal arts college, boasts a tight-knit community and a focus on undergraduate teaching, while Cornell, an Ivy League research university, provides a wide range of academic programs and world-class research opportunities. With Union's acceptance rate hovering around 25% and Cornell's at 10%, selectivity varies significantly. Union's student body is predominantly White, while Cornell's is more diverse. Engineering, Business, and Biological Sciences are popular majors at Cornell, while Union offers strengths in Economics, Psychology, and Political Science. Cornell's larger size allows for a broader range of extracurricular activities and a more vibrant campus life. Graduation rates stand at 88% for Union and 91% for Cornell. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Cornell University |
![]() Union College |
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Overview |
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Location | Ithaca, New York | Barbourville, Kentucky |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Remote |
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% | 60.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.7% | 56.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
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SAT range | 1450 - 1560 | 955 - 1148 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 16 - 22 |
Students submitting SAT score | 41.0% | 6.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 84.0% |
Total number of applicants | 67,380 | 723 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,852 | 408 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,718 | 140 |
Yield rate | 63.5% | 34.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not 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 | $41,789 |
Average net price | $24,262 | $15,690 |
Tuition | $60,286 | $27,119 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,962
Meal plan:
$6,434
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Room/dormitory:
$2,800
Meal plan:
$3,900
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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 |
98.0%
Average amount $22,966 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $3,924 |
71.0%
Average amount $5,976 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $8,357 |
10.0%
Average amount $5,676 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
15,503
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
789
Men 53.0% Women 47.0% |
Graduate students |
10,079
Men 51.0% Women 49.0% |
235
Men 45.1% Women 54.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 64.3% | N/A |
International students | 24.4% | 11.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 7,422 | 437 |
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 | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 94.1% | 37.1% |
Dropout rate | 5.2% | 27.2% |
Transferred out | N/A | 35.7% |
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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Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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