Cornell vs Penn: Complete Comparison 2026
Side-by-side look at Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania: QS 2026 ranks 16 vs 15. Acceptance, tuition, language tests, and typical IB/A-Level sig…
→ Cornell University profile → University of Pennsylvania profile
Summary comparison
Figures come from the GlobalAdmit dataset — always confirm on each university’s official admissions site.
| Metric | Cornell University | University of Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| QS rank 2026 | 16 | 15 |
| Country | US 🇺🇸 | US 🇺🇸 |
| Acceptance rate | 9% | 6% |
| Tuition (intl / yr) | $65,000 | $66,000 |
| Language (summary) | IELTS 7+ · TOEFL 100+ · Duolingo 120+ | IELTS 7+ · TOEFL 100+ · Duolingo 120+ |
| IB typical | 40/45 | 40/45 |
| A-Level typical | A*AA | A*AA |
Strengths
Cornell University
- Top 30 global recognition in QS World University Rankings 2026.
- Highly selective admissions profile.
- Deep ties to US graduate training, recruiting, and industry hubs.
University of Pennsylvania
- Top 30 global recognition in QS World University Rankings 2026.
- Highly selective admissions profile.
- Deep ties to US graduate training, recruiting, and industry hubs.
Popular majors (overlap)
Where both profiles list the same popular major label (case-insensitive).
- computer-science
- economics
- mathematics
- law
- medicine
- engineering-science
- philosophy-politics-economics
- biochemistry
- history
- psychology-philosophy-linguistics
Which is right for you?
If rankings are your north star
Penn sits higher in QS 2026 (15 vs 16). That often correlates with research intensity and global name recognition — but Cornell can still win on programme fit, city, or cost.
If you are coming from IB / A-Levels / US high school
Compare the admission tabs on each profile: Cornell vs Penn can invert depending on whether you are optimising for IB typical offers, A-level expectations, or US-style testing. Use the evaluator after you narrow your list.
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