Cornell Tech is a graduate campus of Cornell University, situated on Roosevelt Island in New York City. It is a small, specialized school with about 400 graduate students, and no undergraduate programs. Admissions are extremely competitive, with acceptance rates by program averaging 15–20%, and applicants most likely expected to have excellent technical or professional training. It has overall acceptance rate 12%. Some of the most popular programs are Computer Science, Information Systems, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Operations Research, and the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA. Though the six-year graduation rate does not apply because of its graduate-only design, career outcomes are robust: MBA graduates in 2024 had a starting salary of $152,000 (INR 1.25 crore), and technical master's graduates had a median of $135,000 (INR 1.1 crore), indicating the school's strong relationship with the technology and startup ecosystems of New York City.
Columbia University in the Morningside Heights district of Manhattan is a highly rated private Ivy League university with a wide-ranging academic program. It has a large student population of around 35,769 students, of which 8,832 are undergraduates and 26,447 graduate students in 18 schools and colleges. Columbia is a highly selective institution in the United States, with an incoming Class of 2028 undergraduate acceptance rate of 3.85%, though graduate admissions are also highly competitive but vary by program. It has overall acceptance rate 3.9%. Fields of study that are most sought after include Social Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, Biology, and History. Six-year graduation rates at Columbia are roughly 97%, one of the highest in the country. Career prospects are excellent, with the graduates making an estimated average of $97,500 (INR 80 lakh) ten years after matriculation, while Columbia's MBA alumni report median salaries over $250,000 (INR 2.1 crore) five years after graduation.
| Cornell Tech | Columbia University | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | PG Programs -7 | UG Programs -25 PG Programs -61 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 12.0 % | 4.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-7 TOEFL-100 | GMAT-732 GRE-324 IELTS-7.5 SAT-1510 TOEFL-105 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 60286 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 38027 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 58440 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 103304 [For PG Program] |
| placement (average package) | More than 90% of the students find employment within 3 months of graduation and most programs have 100% employment rate for the job seekers. The median salary offered to the students is around $135,000. | Columbia University is one of the top private universities in New York City, United States. It is ranked #22 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Ranked #18 in Graduate Employability Rank Base Salaries by the following degrees:
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| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit entrance exam scores Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements | Academic transcripts, 2-3 LORs, SOPs/ Essays, Resume, School report, Standardized tests, Proof of English language proficiency, Additional requirements (work experience, interview, research proposal, etc.) |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | Teachers College at Columbia University Columbia Business School |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.8/10 Read 1 reviews | 7.2/10 Read 22 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| exam scores | IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 | Duolingo - 130/160IELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 100/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Dec 1, 2025 (Priority round For 2025 Intake) Jan 26, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline) Apr 1, 2026 (Rolling Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) | Feb 15, 2026 (Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Cornell Tech | Columbia University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | College | University |
| Established | 2012 | 1754 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 14:1:1 | 6:1:1 |
| Location Facts | The Cornell Tech campus is New York City’s world-class tech destination.The Cornell Tech campus is just one subway stop from the Upper East Side, three subway stops from Grand Central, and 18 minutes from LaGuardia Airport. | Lies in the heart of NYC on Broadway and two faculties located outside Manhattan. |
| Library | Cornell Tech students have access to the excellent library resources of Cornell University. | The low memorial library is a landmark. The university owns around 23 libraries scattered across the city. |
| Campus Life | Student & Academic Affairs creates a student-centered culture which provides supportive resources to promote innovative learning, collaborative work culture, community engagement, resilience, and self-awareness.The House at Cornell Tech includes 350 units for students, staff, and faculty. The first high-rise residential building in the world built according to energy-efficient “Passive House” principles, it reaches 270 feet making it the tallest building — and an iconic marker — on the campus. As a Cornell Tech student, you have a variety of gym options to take advantage of. These fitness options are provided to you at a discounted rate. Various type of other facilities are also provided to the students so that they can learn and grow in the university. | Art Gallery The university offers it all!!! |
| Hostel | #Housing and Food - $38027 | - |
| Famous Alumni | Miwa Takaki, Product lead at Pinterest Adebisi Oje, Global Director of Azure Sales at LiveData company WANdisco Willy Lin, Product Lead at Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) Khemi Cooper, Product Lead at LinkedIn | Barak Obama (Former US President), Alexander Hamilton (founding father of USA), Alicia Keys (singer), Sara Ali Khan (actress), Dorothy Irene Height (Women rights activist), Jake Gyllenhall (actor). |
| City Life | New York City is a place written about in songs, it has served as the backdrop for countless movies and it's inspired people worldwide with its grandiosity. Brimming with some of the nation's tallest buildings and historic landmarks, New York City is never short on spectacle. For centuries, New York City has been a leader in trade and culture, redefining everything from fashion trends to what a proper bagel with schmear should taste like. New York City is known for its fast-paced, around-the-clock lifestyle, which may be overwhelming for newcomers. Known as "the city that never sleeps," this relentless metropolis draws those seeking to advance their careers and push their limits. People come to New York City to pursue their dreams, achieve a better life and test the adage "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere." Affordable housing is an ongoing problem in New York City, with one-bedroom apartments renting for several thousand dollars a month. Housing costs have risen throughout the boroughs – especially Brooklyn. |
Total international students in NY- 11% |
| Weather |
Cornell Tech vs Columbia University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Cornell Tech is a graduate campus of Cornell University, focusing on technology, business, and innovation. Although it is not ranked separately globally, it gets to leverage Cornell University's solid overall position—16th in QS World University Rankings 2026 and 14th in the Center for World University Rankings 2025. Cornell Tech's specialized programs in Computer Science, Operations Research, and the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA also rank very high in topics pertaining to entrepreneurship and applied technology. Columbia University, on the other hand, enjoys wider international acknowledgement, ranked 38th in QS World University Rankings 2026 and 8th in Center for World University Rankings 2025. Columbia is stronger over a broader range of academic disciplines, such as Engineering (18th in U.S. News 2025), Medicine (17th in QS 2025), and Law (5th in Times Higher Education 2025), and solidifies itself as a world-class comprehensive university.
General Information
Cornell Tech provides a concentrated academic environment, admitting approximately 400 graduate students to specialized programs in Computer Science, Information Systems, and its STEM-designated MBA. Close proximity to New York City's technology and startup community is enabled on its Roosevelt Island campus through state-of-the-art facilities such as the Tata Innovation Center. Columbia University, which is in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, is a much bigger Ivy League school with 35,769 students (8,832 undergraduate and 26,447 graduate). It has more than 25 undergraduate, 61 graduate, and 7 doctoral programs across 18 schools and colleges. Columbia's urban campus gives students the opportunity to be near unparalleled cultural, professional, and academic resources, making it one of the most lively university settings in the world.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Cornell Tech has a competitive rate of graduate admissions of approximately 15–20%, with considerations that include solid technical backgrounds, GRE/GMAT scores (for example, median GMAT 720 for MBA admits), and professional experience. Its programs attract a smaller but specially trained pool of applicants pursuing careers in technology and innovation. Columbia University, however, is one of the most competitive universities in the United States, with an average acceptance rate of only 3.85% for the Class of 2028. Admissions to graduate programs differ by program, averaging 10–20%. Columbia undergraduate admits usually have 1490–1570 SAT scores or 34–35 ACT scores, accompanied by challenging coursework, essays, and recommendations. With more than 60,000 undergraduate applicants per year, Columbia's selectivity is much higher than Cornell Tech, echoing its wider applicability across various spheres of study.
Research Impact & Facilities
Cornell Tech focuses on industry and applied research in artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and urban technology. The Tata Innovation Center and other facilities enable interdisciplinary collaboration between academia and the New York City tech community, creating impactful though specialized research output. Columbia University also has one of the Ivy League's most comprehensive research facilities, with first-rate medical and engineering schools, 41 highly cited scholars, and a gigantic library system with 12.3 million books. Its research encompasses the sciences, humanities, and professional fields, exerting far wider scholarly influence than Cornell Tech's focused but utilitarian strategy.
Cost & Financial Aid
Cornell Tech tuition differs by program, with the MBA at about $60,000 per annum, in addition to estimated living costs of $20,000 in New York City. It only offers merit and limited need-based aid, with approximately 51% of Cornell students receiving average aid of $56,741. Columbia's tuition is slightly less on average, with graduate tuition at about $53,040 annually and undergraduate tuition at $65,340. Room and board average $16,800 per year. Columbia's greater endowment can provide more comprehensive financial aid, with 52% of students receiving an average grant of $65,173. Both universities have aid to support international students, but Columbia's financial aid umbrella is much greater because of its size and resources.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Cornell Tech graduates have outstanding outcomes in tech and business, especially in the MBA program. MBA graduates of the Class of 2024 reported a median base salary of $152,000, while technical master's graduates had a median of $135,000, typically augmented with bonuses or equity packages. Around 73% of MBA students took full-time jobs within 3 months of graduation, and another 8% started their own startups. Columbia graduates, on the other hand, enter a broad array of industries with excellent long-term earnings. Ten years from the date of admission, median salaries are approximately $97,500 a year, with Columbia MBAs indicating median salaries of $254,234 five years from graduation. Columbia's six-year graduation rate is a formidable 97%, and its alumni base in excess of 300,000 globally represents business, law, medicine, politics, and academia. Columbia's international reach and wide employability rankings (18th worldwide) make it a strong platform across careers, and Cornell Tech's specialized focus sets its graduates up for leadership in tech and entrepreneurial careers.
