William & Mary (W&M) vs Cornell
William & Mary and Cornell University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, boasts a rich history dating back to 1693, while Cornell, a private research university in Ithaca, New York, was founded in 1865. With acceptance rates of 34% and 10%, respectively, both universities are highly selective. William & Mary's student body is predominantly White (62%) and female (56%), while Cornell's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population (15%). Popular majors at William & Mary include Business, Public Policy, and History, while Cornell offers a wider range of programs, with popular choices including Engineering, Business, and Biological Sciences. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with William & Mary's at 88% and Cornell's at 93%. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into
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![]() William & Mary |
![]() Cornell University |
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Overview |
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Location | Williamsburg, Virginia | Ithaca, New York |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 93.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.5% | 8.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$105
|
SAT range | 1360 - 1520 | 1450 - 1560 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 41.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | 20.0% |
Total number of applicants | 17,475 | 67,380 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,386 | 5,852 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,684 | 3,718 |
Yield rate | 26.4% | 63.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$40,624
Out of state:
$63,850
|
$80,287 |
Average net price | $18,399 | $24,262 |
Tuition |
In state:
$17,434
Out of state:
$40,089
|
$60,286 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,490
Meal plan:
$5,246
|
Room/dormitory:
$9,962
Meal plan:
$6,434
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
44.0%
Average amount $21,700 |
50.0%
Average amount $52,674 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
22.0%
Average amount $5,132 |
26.0%
Average amount $3,924 |
Students taking out private loans |
4.0%
Average amount $27,548 |
16.0%
Average amount $8,357 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,543
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
15,503
Men 46.1% Women 53.9% |
Graduate students |
2,974
Men 42.7% Women 57.3% |
10,079
Men 51.0% Women 49.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 35.2% | 64.3% |
International students | 6.2% | 24.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 4,755 | 7,422 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia New Jersey Maryland Pennsylvania New York | New York California New Jersey Florida Pennsylvania |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 91.0% | 94.1% |
Dropout rate | 2.1% | 5.2% |
Transferred out | 6.3% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
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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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