College comparison

Cornell vs UC Berkeley

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Cornell Ithaca, NY	UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
Acceptance rateCornell University is more selective	9%	11%
SAT (25–75)	1500–1570	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	15,995	33,068
Avg net price	$28,690	$13,481
Median earnings (10 yr)Cornell reports higher median earnings	$104,043	$92,446
Graduation rate	95%	93%
Median debt	$14,000	$13,000
Economic mobility	2.9%	4.9%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Public

Quick answers

Is Cornell University or University of California-Berkeley harder to get into?

Cornell University is more selective: Cornell University's acceptance rate is approximately 9% and University of California-Berkeley's is approximately 11% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Cornell University vs University of California-Berkeley?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1500–1570 at Cornell University and — at University of California-Berkeley. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.