Cornell College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Cornell College is a private research university in Mount Vernon, Iowa, enrolling about 1,086 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 79.90% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,460 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $52,660
- 2024 Average Net Price: $23,634 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 79.90% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,086 99.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 61.82%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 19.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 3.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1234
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,144
- Applicants (IPEDS): 3,087
- Room & Board: $11,850 annual estimate
Cornell College: what the data shows
Common questions about Cornell College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Cornell College?
Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, IA (ZIP 52314).
NCES locale classification: Town fringe.
Is Cornell College public or private?
Cornell College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Cornell College cost?
Published tuition: $52,660.
Average net price after aid: $23,634.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $16,409 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,513 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,177 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,944 |
| $110,001+ | $29,298 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $210,640.
How hard is it to get into Cornell College?
Admission rate: 79.90%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1234 and midpoint ACT 27.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Cornell College?
Total enrollment: 1,086 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,144 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell College?
150%-time completion rate: 61.82%.
First-year retention: 79.5%.
What do graduates of Cornell College earn?
Median earnings: $39,299 six years after entry; $53,460 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
32.07% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Cornell College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- 02.6021 (27 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (17 completions)
- Psychology, General (15 completions)
- Creative Writing (12 completions)
- Finance, General (12 completions)
- Computer Science (11 completions)
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other (11 completions)
- Engineering, General (10 completions)
- History, General (10 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (8 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Cornell College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 79.90%; completion rate 61.82%; median earnings $53,460 at 10 years; net price $23,634. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$52,660
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cornell College was $52,660.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$23,634
2024 Value
In 2024 Cornell College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,634.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$94,536 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$23,634 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$210,640 4-Year Tuition
$11,850 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,320 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$65,830 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$263,320 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Cornell College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
32.07% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
65.34% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Cornell College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Cornell College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $36,430 | $36,430 | $18,783 |
| 2014 | $37,500 | $37,500 | $20,732 |
| 2015 | $38,700 | $38,700 | $24,559 |
| 2016 | $39,900 | $39,900 | $26,617 |
| 2017 | $40,880 | $40,880 | $24,433 |
| 2018 | $42,299 | $42,299 | $27,204 |
| 2019 | $43,976 | $43,976 | $26,901 |
| 2020 | $45,914 | $45,914 | $23,694 |
| 2021 | $47,726 | $47,726 | $21,543 |
| 2022 | $49,158 | $49,158 | $24,164 |
| 2023 | $50,634 | $50,634 | $25,079 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
79.90% Acceptance Rate
3,087 Total Applicants
2,490 Students Admitted
298 First-Time Students Enrolled
11.97% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1234
ACT Average: 27
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Cornell College reported total enrollment of about 1,086 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 54% male and 46% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (68.6%), Hispanic or Latino (11.4%), and Black or African American (8.3%). About 32.07% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 19.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Cornell College in 2024 is 1,086 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,144 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 68.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
58.45% 100% Completion Time
61.82% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 58.45% of students graduating from Cornell College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- 02.6021: 59% male / 41% female
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 65% male / 35% female
- Psychology, General: 27% male / 73% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Cornell College.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$53,460 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
50.51% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
465.50% Return on Investment
5.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Cornell College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 50 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. 02.6021: 27 completions
2. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 17 completions
3. Psychology, General: 15 completions
4. Creative Writing: 12 completions
5. Finance, General: 12 completions
6. Computer Science: 11 completions
7. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other: 11 completions
8. Engineering, General: 10 completions
9. History, General: 10 completions
Most popular programs at Cornell College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Cornell College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Cornell College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,926
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $13,213
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Cornell College is a private non-profit institution located in Mount Vernon, IA, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were 02.6021, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 1,086 students. Student body composition includes White (68.6%), Hispanic or Latino (11.4%), Black or African American (8.3%). The admission rate is 79.90%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1234. The 150%-time completion rate is 61.82%. Approximately 32.07% of students receive Pell Grants. About 19.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Mount Vernon, IA 52314
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Cornell College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cornell College located?
Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, IA.
What is Cornell College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Cornell College is 79.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 3,087 applicants and 2,490 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Cornell College cost?
Reported tuition is $52,660 and average net price is $23,634 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,850 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Cornell College?
Cornell College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,144 students, White (68.6%), Hispanic or Latino (11.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Cornell College?
About 19.6% of students at Cornell College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Cornell College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Cornell College reports midpoint SAT about 1234 and midpoint ACT about 27.
What do graduates of Cornell College earn?
Median earnings are $39,299 six years after entry and $53,460 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 61.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Cornell College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Cornell College public or private?
Cornell College is a private nonprofit institution located in Mount Vernon, IA.
Is Cornell College an HBCU?
No. Cornell College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Cornell College a tribal college?
No. Cornell College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Iowa college costs
- Iowa colleges by ROI
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Iowa
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.