Quad

Cornell University

Ithaca, NYQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · 2025-26

1 in 12 applicants admitted

Cornell admits about 1 in 12 applicants (8.4%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 98% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

8.4%

8.4%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

72,523

Admitted

6,077

Yield

63%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1490–1550

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–35

1836
Applications +46% since fall 2014 · admit rate 14% → 8.8%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 15,979 undergrads, where 18% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

16K

undergrads · larger than 93% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

18%

below the median

First generation

15%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FCS · Ivy GroupROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.76 → 0.79 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (12% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 93% of faculty are full-time. Spends $33,431 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer Science

12% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$223.3K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

93%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$33.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $58,255 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $34K more than the national median. The 48% who received grants paid $26,361 on average; the other 52% paid the full sticker price of $88,140.

34%

$58.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $34K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$88,140 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 34% of full price

Federal loans

18%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −2% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $104,043 ten years after enrolling, more than at 99% of colleges; 96% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.2 years of that salary.

96%

96%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$104K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$14K

≈ $148/month for 10 years

Retention

98%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 93% → 95% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 9% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 2%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 46% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 14% to 8.8%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −2% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +46%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 14% → 9%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.76 → 0.79 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Boston University

11% admit · SAT 1475 · 18.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

New York University

9.2% admit · SAT 1520 · 28.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

University of Pennsylvania

5.4% admit · SAT 1540 · 10.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Northwestern University

7.7% admit · SAT 1540 · 9.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

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    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Cornell University Common Data Set

    Cornell University · 2025-26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Cornell University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-03

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Cornell University (2026–27)

    Cornell University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  13. 13
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    Cornell Duffield College of Engineering

    Cornell University · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-11

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  21. 21
    Cornell University (2026)

    Cornell University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 190415 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything