Cornell University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

Cornell University is a highly selective private research university in Ithaca, New York, with about 15,995 students. Admission is highly selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 8.76% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $104,043 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $69,314
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $28,690 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 8.76% Highly Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 15,995 99.0% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 95.38%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 15.4%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price increase of 9.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 92.8%
  • Average SAT Score: 1535
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,662
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 65,635
  • Room & Board: $19,428 annual estimate

Cornell University: what the data shows

Common questions about Cornell University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Cornell University?

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (ZIP 14853).

NCES locale classification: Town.

Is Cornell University public or private?

Cornell University is a Private Non-profit institution.

How much does Cornell University cost?

Published tuition: $69,314.

Average net price after aid: $28,690.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$1,776
$30,001–$48,000$4,070
$48,001–$75,000$6,796
$75,001–$110,000$14,311
$110,001+$49,992

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $277,256.

How hard is it to get into Cornell University?

Admission rate: 8.76%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1535 and midpoint ACT 34.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Cornell University?

Total enrollment: 15,995 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 16,662 students.

Graduate enrollment: 10,665 students.

About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Cornell University?

150%-time completion rate: 95.38%.

First-year retention: 98.4%.

What do graduates of Cornell University earn?

Median earnings: $87,830 six years after entry; $104,043 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $14,000.

18.41% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Cornell University known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Cornell University a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 8.76%; completion rate 95.38%; median earnings $104,043 at 10 years; net price $28,690. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$69,314
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cornell University was $69,314.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$28,690
2024 Value

In 2024 Cornell University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $28,690.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$114,760 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$28,690 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$277,256 4-Year Tuition

$19,428 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,226 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$89,968 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$359,872 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Cornell University.

Financial Aid by Income Level

18.41% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

17.81% 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 University 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 University 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$45,358$45,358$26,484
2014$47,286$47,286$29,240
2015$49,116$49,116$29,711
2016$50,953$50,953$30,498
2017$52,853$52,853$31,230
2018$55,188$55,188$30,494
2019$57,222$57,222$40,126
2020$59,282$59,282$37,042
2021$61,015$61,015$29,011
2022$63,200$63,200$29,651
2023$66,014$66,014$32,337

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

8.76% Acceptance Rate

65,635 Total Applicants

5,358 Students Admitted

3,537 First-Time Students Enrolled

66.01% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is extremely selective, accepting fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1535

ACT Average: 34

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.9 - 4.0

Estimated Median GPA: 4.00

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 University reported total enrollment of about 15,995 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (31.0%), Asian (26.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (13.2%). About 18.41% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 15.4% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

99.0% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Cornell University in 2024 is 15,995 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 16,662 students. Graduate enrollment is about 10,665 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

98.4%
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 31.0%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

86.92% 100% Completion Time

95.38% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 86.92% of students graduating from Cornell University completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Computer Science: 65% male / 35% female
  • Business Administration and Management, General: 63% male / 37% female
  • Information Technology: 38% male / 62% 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 University.

Return on Investment

$14,000 Median Student Debt

$104,043 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

13.46% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

806.61% Return on Investment

1.3 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Cornell University.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 133 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Computer Science: 874 completions

2. Business Administration and Management, General: 543 completions

3. Information Technology: 420 completions

4. Labor and Industrial Relations: 349 completions

5. Hotel/Motel Administration/Management: 337 completions

6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 296 completions

7. Management Science: 286 completions

8. Mechanical Engineering: 272 completions

9. Electrical and Electronics Engineering: 255 completions

Most popular programs at Cornell University.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Cornell University graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Cornell University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 92.8%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $17,953
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $33,431

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 University is a private non-profit institution located in Ithaca, NY, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer Science, Business Administration and Management, General, Information Technology. Enrollment is approximately 15,995 students. Student body composition includes White (31.0%), Asian (26.8%), Hispanic or Latino (13.2%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 8.76%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1535. The 150%-time completion rate is 95.38%. Approximately 18.41% of students receive Pell Grants. About 15.4% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Ithaca, NY 14853

Region: Mid East

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 95.38% graduation rate, Cornell University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Strong Career Outcomes: Cornell University graduates report median earnings of $104,043 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 133 distinct degree programs, Cornell University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Cornell University located?

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY.

What is Cornell University's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at Cornell University is 8.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 65,635 applicants and 5,358 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does Cornell University cost?

Reported tuition is $69,314 and average net price is $28,690 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,428 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Cornell University?

Cornell University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 16,662 students, White (31.0%), Asian (26.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Cornell University?

About 15.4% of students at Cornell University are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for Cornell University?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Cornell University reports midpoint SAT about 1535 and midpoint ACT about 34.

What do graduates of Cornell University earn?

Median earnings are $87,830 six years after entry and $104,043 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Cornell University?

The 150%-time completion rate is 95.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Cornell University students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $14,000.

Is Cornell University public or private?

Cornell University is a private nonprofit institution located in Ithaca, NY.

Is Cornell University an HBCU?

No. Cornell University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Cornell University a tribal college?

No. Cornell University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Mid East regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in New York

    • 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.