Cornell University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Ithaca, New York · Private nonprofit · Most selective · CDS 2024-2025
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Cornell University is a private nonprofit university in Ithaca, New York that admits about 8% of applicants, making it a most selective school. The average family pays about $28,690 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Biology, General and Human Resources Management and Services, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 96% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
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 1540 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 parents should know about Cornell University right now
Cornell University admitted 5,824 students between Early and Regular Decision for the Class of 2029, drawn from 72,523 applications, an overall admit rate of about 8.4%. Early Decision admitted 1,889 of 10,057 applicants at 18.8%, while Regular Decision admitted 4,187 of 62,462 at 6.7%. The class arrives from all 50 states and 115 countries, with first-generation college students making up roughly 18% of admits. Cornell is need-blind for U.S. applicants and matches Ivy League aid offers from competing institutions; in 2008 the university replaced need-based loans with scholarships for lower-income families, and parents weighing affordability should also know that the four New York State statutory colleges, including the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Human Ecology, charge meaningfully reduced tuition for New York residents. Cornell's distinctive structure splits undergraduates across eight colleges, each with its own admissions criteria and identity, plus seven graduate divisions. Cornell Tech, the graduate technology campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City founded in 2017, and Weill Cornell Medicine in Manhattan extend the university's reach far beyond Ithaca. In November 2025 Cornell agreed to pay $30 million to the federal government and invest $30 million in agricultural research to settle investigations related to campus antisemitism and DEI practices. Michael Kotlikoff has served as interim and now permanent president since the July 2024 retirement of Martha Pollack.
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 (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
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.
| 25th percentile | 1510 |
| 50th percentile | 1540 |
| 75th percentile | 1560 |
| % submitting SAT | 44.9% |
| 25th percentile | 33 |
| 50th percentile | 34 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 14.6% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Policy detail: Required
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.
| Top 10% of class | 85.6% |
| Top 25% of class | 95.5% |
| Top 50% of class | 99.4% |
| % submitting class rank | 18.3% |
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 — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $28,690 |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Cornell University
| Regular deadline | January 2 |
| Notification date | Early April |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| ED acceptance rate | 12% |
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
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 504 | $219,827 |
| Biology, General | 290 | $69,997 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 282 | $120,368 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 226 | $98,785 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 220 | $140,860 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 190 | $130,690 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 190 | $85,225 |
| Economics | 182 | $129,667 |
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
Other colleges in New York parents ask about
Next steps for Cornell University
Common questions parents ask about Cornell University
What GPA do I 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 SAT or ACT score does Cornell University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 730. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35.
How much does Cornell University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Cornell University after grants and scholarships is $28,690 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $69,314. Budget against the net figure.
Is Cornell University realistic for my child?
Cornell University admits 8% of applicants, so 770–800 SAT Math is target range and below 770 is a reach. Then check the $28,690 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Cornell University?
Cornell University accepts about 8% of applicants out of roughly 65,612 who apply each year. That makes it a most selective school.
Is Cornell University test-optional?
No. Cornell University requires SAT or ACT scores as part of a standard application.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell University?
About 96% of students at Cornell University graduate within six years. 98% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Cornell University?
Cornell University's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 12%, compared with its overall rate of 8%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Cornell University look for in applicants?
Cornell University rates course rigor, the application essay, recommendations and extracurricular activities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Cornell University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Cornell University is a private nonprofit institution located in Ithaca, New York.
What are the most popular majors at Cornell University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Cornell University by annual graduates are Computer Science, Biology, General and Human Resources Management and Services. The school awards about 2,084 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Cornell University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Cornell University reported 73 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Cornell University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers