Cornell University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Cornell University is a private institution located in Ithaca, New York and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Cornell University admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 8%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1530 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $28,690 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Cornell University?

Successful applicants to Cornell University typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.

What does Cornell University weight in admissions?

Cornell University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

How Cornell University reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Cornell University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Cornell University actually cost?

Published tuition is $69,314 for in-state students and $69,314 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,428 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $28,690 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Cornell University

Will my child graduate from Cornell University?

These predict outcomes at Cornell University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Cornell University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Cornell University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Biology, General and Human Resources Management and Services. Across all programs, Cornell University confers roughly 2,084 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer Science program report a median income of about $219,827 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Cornell University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Cornell University disclosed 73 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 9 violent offenses and 47 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Cornell University?

About 55% of undergraduates at Cornell University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 23% of men join a fraternity and 19% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in New York parents ask about

• New York University
  9% acceptance
• Fordham University
  59% acceptance
• University at Buffalo
  74% acceptance
• Stony Brook University
  49% acceptance
• CUNY Hunter College
  54% acceptance
• CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
  48% acceptance
• CUNY Brooklyn College
  58% acceptance
• CUNY City College
  60% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Cornell University