Is NYU or Cornell harder to get into?

Cornell is harder to get into overall. It is an Ivy League school with a more selective admissions profile across most of its undergraduate colleges, and applicants usually need a very strong academic record to be competitive. Even though NYU is also highly selective and has become more competitive in recent years, Cornell is still more widely viewed as the tougher admit.

One important difference is applicant pool strength and institutional positioning. Cornell draws a very large number of top-tier applicants who are also applying to other highly selective universities, and its colleges often expect especially strong preparation in the intended field, particularly for programs like engineering, architecture, and business-related options.

Another factor is the way Cornell’s internal colleges work. Admission standards can vary by college, but many applicants are being evaluated not just for general academic excellence, but for fit with a specific school and program. That can make the process feel even tighter, especially for more specialized divisions. NYU also admits by school in many cases, but Cornell’s college structure and academic expectations usually create a more demanding bar.

For building a college list, it makes sense to treat both as reaches for most students. Cornell would usually be the longer shot between the two, while NYU is still far from predictable.