A+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    A+
  2. Value
    A+
  3. Diversity
    A+
  4. Campus
    B+
  5. Athletics
    B
  6. Party Scene
    A-
  7. Professors
    A+
  8. Location
    B+
  9. Dorms
    C+
  10. Campus Food
    A+
  11. Student Life
    A-
  12. Safety
    B-
View Full Report Card
Cornell University is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
NCAA Division I-FCS
Athletic Conference
Ivy Group
Address
300 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Website
cornell.edu

Cornell University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
15%
SAT Range
1330-1530
ACT Range
30-34
Application Fee
$80
SAT/ACT
Required
High School GPA
Required
Will You Get In?

Test Scores and GPA for Cornell University

Cost

Net Price
$28,656/ year
National
$15,403
Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Net Price by Household Income
  • <$30k
    $12,403/ year
  • $30-48k
    $11,579/ year
  • $49-75k
    $16,877/ year
  • $76-110k
    $27,257/ year
  • $110k+
    $44,931/ year

Academics

Professors
A+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
9:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
82%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.119 responses
62%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.127 responses
33%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.126 responses

Majors

Most Popular Majors
  • Biology
    335 Graduates
  • Labor and Industrial Relations
    283 Graduates
  • Hotel and Resort Management
    271 Graduates
  • Computer Science
    269 Graduates
  • Economics
    232 Graduates
  • Agricultural Economics
    195 Graduates
  • Biological Sciences
    193 Graduates
  • Mechanical Engineering
    138 Graduates
  • Political Science and Government
    125 Graduates
  • Animal Sciences and Husbandry
    113 Graduates

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
14,303Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
1%
Pell Grant
15%
Varsity Athletes
8%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 82 responses
Report
  • Smart, hard working, and stressed
    50%
  • Work hard, play hard
    13%
  • Egotistical assholes
    12%
  • Intelligent, but self absorbed
    9%
  • Stressed
    6%
  • Busy
    5%
  • Smart & stressed
    5%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
100%
Poll
60%
of students say that Greek life is pretty big.141 responses
Poll
72%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.161 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 88 responses
Report
  • Any person, any study
    45%
  • Endless possibilities
    15%
  • Work hard, play hard
    13%
  • Legacies and Trust-fund babies
    10%
  • Work hard, play later
    10%
  • Bureaucratic and frustrating!
    5%
  • Okay
    1%

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$70,900/ year
National
$33,028
Graduation Rate
93%
National
48%
Employed 2 Years After Graduation
92%
National
83%
82%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.78 responses
Colleges like Cornell University
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Cornell University Reviews

1,731 reviews
All Categories
My experience at Cornell had been a whirlwind of endless opportunities. It has absolutely had it's ups and downs, with times where the stress and fast pace of classes seems to be unbearable, but usually when that happens a break was right around the corner and there was time to catch up. All the students at this school, from the engineers to the Hotelies, are used to being the top of their class in high school. It takes some getting used to learn that not everyone can be the best at this university.

That being said, Cornell can offer you the change to truly impact the world in whatever field you pursue. Your plant science degree with lead to cutting edge research, your business major with give you connections others need years to build and your engineering degree will give you your choice of career straight out of college. But that diploma does not come easy, you will have to work relentlessly for four years to earn it (five years if you're studying architecture!).

Looking back to choosing this university my senior year of high school, I wouldn't change a thing. My experience has been far from perfect: I've experienced failure just like the rest of my peers. I'm not, however, the same person I was in high school and this is a good thing. Cornell has changed me for the better and I highly recommend you let it do the same to you!
Review Cornell University
Cornell has an incredibly diverse mix of people. If you can find a good crew it will make your experience exponentially better. The academics are definitely hard, but professors do want you to succeed so use them as a resource! The weather obviously sucks, there's no way around that. Don't try to be strong. By a giant puffy coat (everyone wears them I promise) and some winter boots. You'll need them. "No winter maintenance" is Cornell's November-March motto.

If you get the chance spend the summer. It will be the best time of your life hands down. Its mostly people who slacked off a little bit and like to have fun. Go to wineries, go to gorges, take a class or two and just enjoy the two and a half months of the year the Ithaca weather is pleasant.
I'm very happy to be an engineer at Cornell. I had thought that I wouldn't have much of a social life, and I'd find myself studying most nights in a library, but that's not true at all. A lot of my engineering friends and I find time to hang out with all of our friends, within and outside of Cornell. Academically, there are so many things one can explore, and Cornell really forces you to see the bigger picture, and this grand spectrum of things one could be. The professors are passionate in what they teach in lecture, and provide hands-on experience to prepare us for the real world. Most importantly, finding that balance of doing work and making long-lasting friendships was very valuable to me, and I'm grateful to have found that healthy balance my first semester here. Go Big Red!