Ithaca, NY
Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private very large school with roughly 15,995 undergraduates. It's highly selective, admitting about 9% of applicants. Its highest-earning reported major is Computer Science (Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $223,309/year four years out. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from Cornell University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Early Decision: Nov 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: Jan 2, 2027
Confirm on Cornell University's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Where do you stand against Cornell University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Cornell University weighs your application
From Cornell University's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
What applicants who posted their results listed
162 self-reported applicant profiles from public posts, 2024–25 and 2025–26 admissions cycles: 42 admitted, 120 rejected or waitlisted. Figures read admitted vs. rejected or waitlisted.
Most common activities
Most common awards among admits
Who posted
The full breakdown, with what stood out: Cornell Accepted vs. Rejected Applicants →
These are people who chose to post their results publicly, mostly on Reddit -- a group that skews toward high scores and STEM. They describe posters, not Cornell University's admitted class, and recruited athletes are left out. For official numbers, use the admissions figures above.
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Cornell University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Cornell University look for in applicants?
Per Cornell University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates character/personal qualities, rigor of secondary school record, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, recommendations, application essay as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Cornell University's acceptance rate?
Cornell University in Ithaca, NY admits approximately 9% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Cornell University?
Per Cornell University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1490–1550 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for Cornell University?
Per Cornell University's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 33–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does Cornell University cost?
Cornell University's total cost of attendance is reported at $88,140 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Cornell University?
Cornell University's deadlines are Early Decision Nov 1, 2026; Regular Decision Jan 2, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Cornell University require students to live on campus?
No -- Cornell University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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