Side-by-side
Boston University vs Cornell University
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Both admit around 11% of applicants, with 18k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
| Boston University | Cornell University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 11% | 9% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $68,102 | $69,314 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $68,102 | $69,314 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $68,102 | $69,314 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $68,102 | $69,314 |
| Graduation rate | 89% | 95% |
| Total enrollment | 18,248 | 15,995 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/boston-university-vs-cornell-university.