Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Cornell's yield is 9 pts higher than Northeastern's
Yield rate - 2
Northeastern is 1.6× more selective than Cornell
Acceptance rate - 3
Cornell's SAT midpoint is 45 points higher than Northeastern's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- NortheasternUltra selective
- CornellUltra selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1300–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- NortheasternTest-optional
- CornellTest scores required
How they read a record
Northeastern
, GPA, and tests are all very important; class rank is considered. 95% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
Cornell
is very important; GPA and class rank are both important; tests are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Northeastern | Cornell |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Important |
| College-prep program | Considered | Considered |
| Recommendations | Very important | Very important |
| Essay | Considered | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Important | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Northeastern University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2025 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;Cornell University Common Data Set, 2025-26;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why