Side-by-side
Cornell University vs University of Southern California
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 9% of applicants, with 16k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
| Cornell University | University of Southern California | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 9% | 10% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $69,314 | $72,097 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $69,314 | $72,097 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $69,314 | $72,097 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $69,314 | $72,097 |
| Graduation rate | 95% | 92% |
| Total enrollment | 15,995 | 20,443 |
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-university-of-southern-california.