Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Cornell University admitted 6,077 of 72,523 applicants for the fall 2025 entering class (8.4%).
Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2025 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.
What stands out at Cornell University
Three things Cornell University published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.
Cornell University files the essay under “very important”.
That is the top of the scale the form offers, and the only other factors this school puts there are Course rigor and Recommendations.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
254 admitted from a waitlist of 9,720.
6,598 students accepted a place on that list, and 254 were admitted from it, 3.8% of the students who waited. A waitlist offer here is not a near-miss anyone can plan around.
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
37% of the enrolled class sent an SAT.
The SAT band on this page describes that share of the class, not all of it. Another 12% sent an ACT. Cornell University files test scores under “considered”.
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
Every figure, in full
The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.
Acceptance rate
8.4%
6,077 admitted of 72,523 applicants
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
SAT, middle 50%
Reading 720–770 · Math 760–790
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
ACT, middle 50%
33–35
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
Enrolled students who sent an SAT
37%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
Enrolled students who sent an ACT
12%
Counted per test: a student may send both.
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
Where do you actually stand at Cornell University?
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
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What Cornell University says it weighs
The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.
- Essayvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Course rigorvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Recommendationsvery important
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- GPAimportant
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Class rankimportant
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Test scoresconsidered
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
Not considered
- Demonstrated interest
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
The waitlist, as the school reported it
Published counts, including the ones schools rarely lead with.
- Offered a waitlist place
- 9,720
- Accepted the place
- 6,598
- Admitted from the waitlist
- 254
Source: their Common Data Set, fall 2025
What students actually pay
Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.
Average net price: $28,690 a year.
- Family income under $30k
- $1,776
- $30k–$48k
- $4,070
- $48k–$75k
- $6,796
- $75k–$110k
- $14,311
- Over $110k
- $49,992
Source: the College Scorecard
Essays on this application
15 essay prompts on the application: 2 not yet confirmed.
A prompt we have not yet confirmed is counted on its own rather than called optional, treating an unconfirmed prompt as optional is how a student skips an essay their college expects.
Published deadlines
Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.
Guides for Cornell University applicants
More colleges on the record
Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.
Other colleges in New York
The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.
Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate
Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.
Build the list this school belongs on.
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
See where I stand ›3 days free · $0 today · cancel anytime
