Side-by-side
Cornell University vs Northwestern 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 8% of applicants, with 9k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
| Cornell University | Northwestern University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 9% | 8% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $69,314 | $68,322 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $69,314 | $68,322 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $69,314 | $36,710 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $69,314 | $36,710 |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 96% |
| Total enrollment | 15,995 | 9,201 |
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/cornell-university-vs-northwestern-university.