Cornell University

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Cornell University can be found in Ithaca, NY, a nonprofit private college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. The students enrolled at Cornell University number around 25,000 per year, and is one of the biggest schools in the state.

Students can report either the ACT or SAT exam scores to this school. A score in the range of 1400 - 1560 on the SAT exam, or 32 - 35 on the ACT exam is among the 25th - 75th percentile range among admitted students. We were able to estimate the Cornell University average GPA (3.90 - 4) of admitted students by applying sampled GPA data on over 150 schools. Only 11% of applicants are accepted to this school due to the fair number of applicants and the increase competition for enrollment. Using acceptance rate data from previous years, we can project that the Cornell University acceptance rate in 2021 is going to be around 11%. You can get more information from the admissions office website at admissions.cornell.edu.

Overall Cornell University Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

10.9%

The overall acceptance rate for Cornell University was reported as 10.9% in Fall 2020 with over 49,100 college applications submitted to Cornell University. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • ACT Scores: 32 - 35
  • Average GPA: 3.90 - 4

How Hard Is It to Get into Cornell University?

Applicant Selectivity: High

Cornell University has a very competitive selection process for applicants, where most students accepted have a higher than average high school GPA and scored in the top percentiles on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT exam.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for Cornell University has been on a downward trend over the past few years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 14.1%
  • 2017-2018: 12.7%
  • 2018-2019: 10.6%
  • 2019-2020: 10.9%
  • Projected Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 10.7%

How Does Cornell University Compare?

10.9%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for Cornell University is more than 100% lower than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
SUNY at Binghamton40.5%
Syracuse University44.4%
Rochester Institute of Technology70.7%
University of Rochester29.7%
University at Buffalo61.1%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • School Records are Required
  • Submit Recommendation Letters are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants49,11452.1%47.9%
Admitted5,33045.1%54.9%
Enrolled3,18945.1%54.9%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to Cornell University (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading680 - 760
Math720 - 800
Total Score1400 - 1560
ACT®Score Range
English33 - 36
Math30 - 35
Composite Score32 - 35
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.