Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · Small city · Website

Admission rate: 8.8%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $33,934; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 95%
Median earnings: $113,531; 10 years after enrolling

Cornell University is a private nonprofit college in Ithaca, NY with 15,995 undergraduates. It admits 8.8% of applicants, and admitted students average 1535 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $33,934 per year ($6,371 for families earning under $30,000). 95% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $113,531 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 8.8%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 65,635; Fall 2023
Admitted: 5,358; Fall 2023
Yield: 66%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing730–770

200800

SAT Math770–800

200800

ACT Composite33–35

136

What Cornell University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $92,093; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $72,270

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$6,371
$30–48k$6,152
$48–75k$6,797
$75–110k$13,422
$110k+$55,935

Get a personal estimate with Cornell University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 95%
Freshman retention: 98%
Median earnings: $113,531; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $12,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 15,995
Student–faculty ratio: 9:1
Receive Pell grants: 22%

White31%
Hispanic13%
Black7%
Asian27%

Cornell University FAQ

What is Cornell University's acceptance rate?+

Cornell University admits 8.8% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Cornell University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 730–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1535.

What ACT score do you need for Cornell University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 33–35.

Is Cornell University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Cornell University?+

In Fall 2023, 65,635 students applied to Cornell University and 5,358 were admitted; 3,537 enrolled.

Does Cornell University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Cornell University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Cornell University require an essay?+

Cornell University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Cornell University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $92,093 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $33,934.

What is Cornell University's graduation rate?+

95% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 190415 · How we use this data