Location
- Boston University
- Boston, MA
- Cornell University
- Ithaca, NY
Boston University vs Cornell University
Boston, MA · Ithaca, NY · largest Scorecard gap: median debt at graduation
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:NY
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-DEBT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE MA × NY
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-DEBT Largest gap · Median Debt at Graduation
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · narrow · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Nearly parallel enrollment growth
ENROLL-RACE · narrow · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both Boston University and Cornell University across 2013–2023 on similar paces, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides, a growth-under-squeeze pattern rather than a pure size race.
- Cornell University: enrollment grew +11.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +168 students/yr fitted, r² 0.87.
- Boston University: enrollment grew +8.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +135 students/yr fitted, r² 0.66.
- Boston University: acceptance rate tightened -76.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
- Cornell University: acceptance rate tightened -47.6% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.94).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Boston University
- 18,248
- Cornell University
- 15,995
Median Debt at Graduation
- Boston University
- $23,250
- Cornell University
- $14,000
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Boston University
- $65,655
- Cornell University
- $87,830
Acceptance Rate
- Boston University
- 11.1%
- Cornell University
- 8.8%
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Boston University
- $83,238
- Cornell University
- $104,043
Avg Net Price
- Boston University
- $24,402
- Cornell University
- $28,690
150%-Time Completion
- Boston University
- 89.3%
- Cornell University
- 95.3%
Loan Repayment Rate (Completers)
- Boston University
- 86.8%
- Cornell University
- 90.5%
Retention Rate
- Boston University
- 94.7%
- Cornell University
- 98.4%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Boston University Boston, MA | Cornell University Ithaca, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Boston, MA | Ithaca, NY |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 18,248 | 15,995 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 | $14,000 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $65,655 | $87,830 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.1% | 8.8% |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $83,238 | $104,043 |
| Avg Net Price | $24,402 | $28,690 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 89.3% | 95.3% |
| Loan Repayment Rate (Completers) | 86.8% | 90.5% |
| Retention Rate | 94.7% | 98.4% |
Largest gaps: Boston University vs Cornell University
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Cornell University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $23,250 at Boston University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Cornell University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($87,830 vs $65,655 at Boston University)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Cornell University leads on acceptance rate (8.8% vs 11.1% at Boston University)
Boston University profile · Cornell University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Median Debt at Graduation and other Scorecard questions
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Boston University and Cornell University?▼
Cornell University leads on median debt at graduation at $14,000 versus $23,250 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Boston University and Cornell University?▼
Cornell University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $87,830 versus $65,655 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Boston University and Cornell University?▼
Cornell University leads on acceptance rate at 8.8% versus 11.1% at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); median debt at graduation focus for this pair · 2025