Admissions
Getting in, 2025-26
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (7.8% and 9.8%).
$80 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
New York applicants were admitted at 13%, applicants from other states at 9.0%, and international applicants at 3.6%.
All applicants in the same class: 8.4%
Of those admitted, 69% from New York enrolled, against 61% from other states and 59% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
63% of admitted students enroll, one of the highest nationally.
Wait list: 9,720 offered a place, 6,598 accepted, 254 admitted (3.8% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 19% admitted
1,889 of 10,057 early applicants; 8.4% of all applicants
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Where you stand
How Cornell reads a record
is very important; GPA and class rank are both important; tests are considered. Scores are required. 43% of first-years sent an SAT and 13% an ACT. Applicants are .
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required; other tests considered
Transferring in
12% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 8.4% of first-year applicants
7,381 applied · 864 admitted · 625 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by March 15, decisions on a rolling basis, reply by July 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Required of some
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 2 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are released: Early April.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- $0 housing deposit.
Recent change: Requires the SAT or ACT again, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
84% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 97% in the top quarter, of the 12% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1535 on the SAT, 365 points above the median for colleges that report scores. It requires SAT or ACT scores again from students entering in fall 2027.
Required
Send SAT or ACT scores: they're required to be considered. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
These scores are from the class that entered in fall 2025, before the change.
Score bands
Nearly all who sent an SAT (93%) scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (95%) scored 30 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (91%) scored 700 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (92%) scored 700 or higher.
Shares of the 43% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 13% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
1,639 studentssubmitted ACT
486 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Cornell University Common Data Set, 2025-26;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Cornell Duffield College of Engineering, most recent release;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)