Cornell University
Cornell University is a private Ivy League research university in Ithaca, New York, and the largest of the Ivies, enrolling roughly 16,138 undergraduates across colleges as varied as engineering, agriculture and life sciences, architecture, and hotel administration. Admission is highly competitive — Cornell admitted about 8.4% of more than 72,000 applicants for its most recent class, which carried middle-50% SAT scores of 1490–1550 and an ACT range of 33–35. Cornell's most recent class applied test-optional, though the university is reinstating an SAT/ACT requirement for future applicants, and it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. The figures below are drawn directly from Cornell's official Common Data Set.
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Cornell admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Cornell offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.8× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Cornell is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Cornell's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 12.2% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Cornell does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Cornell weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Cornell's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Cornell admissions
Is it hard to get into Cornell?＋
Yes — Cornell is highly selective, admitting about 8.4% of applicants in the most recent cycle, offering admission to roughly 6,077 of more than 72,000 applicants. Admitted students cluster at the very top academically, with middle-50% SAT scores of 1490–1550 and ACT scores of 33–35, and about 84% of those who reported a class rank stood in the top tenth of their graduating class.
What is Cornell's early decision acceptance rate?＋
Cornell's binding Early Decision round is meaningfully less selective than the overall pool: it admitted about 1,889 of 10,057 ED applicants in the most recent cycle, an ED rate near 18.8% versus the 8.4% overall acceptance rate. Cornell offers Early Decision (not Early Action), so applying ED is a binding commitment to enroll if admitted.
Does Cornell require the SAT or ACT?＋
Cornell's most recent published class applied under a test-optional policy, and among enrolled students who submitted scores the middle 50% scored 1490–1550 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. Cornell is reinstating a standardized testing requirement for future applicants, so confirm the policy that applies to your cycle on its admissions site.
Is a 1550 SAT good enough for Cornell?＋
A 1550 is competitive — it sits right at the top of the middle 50% of enrolled first-years, who scored 1490–1550 on the SAT (33–35 ACT), matching the 75th-percentile mark of 1550. About 93% of score-submitting enrolled students scored 1400 or above, so a 1550 puts you comfortably in range, though scores are only one of many factors Cornell weighs.
What GPA and class rank do you need for Cornell?＋
Cornell does not publish an average GPA in its Common Data Set, but admitted students sit at the top of their class: among those who reported a rank, about 84% were in the top tenth and roughly 97% in the top quarter of their graduating class. The rigor of your high school coursework is weighed as a very important factor alongside your academic record.
How much does Cornell cost, and does it meet financial need?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $74,970 per year before food and housing. Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need: about 44% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, and the average need-based aid package is roughly $68,147.
What are the most popular majors at Cornell?＋
Computer science is the single most popular field at about 19% of bachelor's degrees, followed by engineering (15%) and business and marketing (11%). Cornell's land-grant heritage also makes agriculture (about 11%) and the biological sciences (about 10%) unusually strong for an Ivy.
Does the application essay matter at Cornell?＋
Yes — Cornell rates the application essay as a very important factor in its holistic review, on par with recommendations, extracurricular activities, and character, and above standardized test scores, which are only considered. With an 8.4% acceptance rate, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways a strong applicant can stand out.
Source: Cornell University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-25. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Cornell. Banner photo by P. Hughes, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).