Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Cornell's yield is 26 pts higher than Boston's
Yield rate - 2
Cornell's SAT midpoint is 60 points higher than Boston's
SAT midpoint - 3
Cornell admits 8.4% vs. 11% at Boston
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- CornellUltra selective
- BostonHighly 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 28–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- CornellTest scores required
- BostonTest-optional
How they read a record
Cornell
is very important; GPA and class rank are both important; tests are considered.
Boston
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered. 78% 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.
What they look at
| Factor | Cornell | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Important | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Important | Important |
| College-prep program | Considered | Required |
| Recommendations | Very important | Important |
| Essay | Very important | Important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Considered | Not considered |
Sources:Cornell University Common Data Set, 2025-26;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;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 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;Boston University Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2026 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About 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