Duke University vs Cornell University

Duke University vs Cornell University

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Both Duke and Cornell are top-tier private research universities in the United States, ranked consistently among the top 30 worldwide. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Cornell is about #16, while Duke comes in at #62. Times Higher Education places Cornell generally higher in general reputation and research output.

In subject rankings, Cornell is strong in Engineering, Agriculture, Business, and Computer Science, with especial strengths in Robotics and Data Science. Duke is very highly rated in Law, Medicine, Public Policy, and Social Sciences, and has a special strength in interdisciplinarity as well as global health. Both institutions are well-ranked in STEM and humanities as well, but Cornell is particularly dominant in technical and applied sciences, while Duke takes the lead in health and policy-based sciences.

General Information

Cornell is a bigger school, situated in Ithaca, New York, with more than 26,000 students and a huge campus featuring several specialized colleges. Duke, which is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, is smaller, with approximately 17,000 students, and features a more intimate, residential campus setting. Cornell's arrangement involves both private and public colleges, whereas Duke is a single, unified private university with strong connections to the Research Triangle.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Both universities are highly competitive in admissions. Duke's acceptance is around 7%, whereas Cornell's is slightly lower at 8.4%. Duke is drawn to students with slightly higher standardized test scores (1510–1570 SAT vs. Cornell's 1480–1560), and both universities are test-optional. Duke focuses on holistic review based on leadership and service, whereas Cornell's admissions differ by college and are more selective for some programs than others.

Research Impact & Facilities

Cornell has more than 100 research centers, such as the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute in New York City and state-of-the-art engineering and life science labs. Duke focuses research in medicine, public policy, and global health with large investments in cross-disciplinary centers and a minimal student-faculty ratio of 6:1 conducive to mentorship and collaboration.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both institutions cost a lot, with fees of about $63,000–$65,000/yr and room and board expenses of about $17,000–$18,500. Duke provides slightly more generous mean grant aid (~$59,000 vs. Cornell's ~$56,000), although Cornell is more generous in financial assistance to its colleges. Both offer international students need-based aid.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Duke graduates earn a median salary of $108,900 ten years after graduation, while Cornell alumni earn around $98,400. Duke’s alumni network is strong in law, medicine, consulting, and public service, while Cornell’s is vast and influential in engineering, business, agriculture, and tech. Both universities have high graduation rates (Duke 94%, Cornell 93%) and strong global reputations for producing leaders across industries.