Acceptance Rate
80%
Avg. SAT
1285
75th percentile
“Dive deep into one subject at a time on Cornell College's revolutionary Block Plan, where three-and-a-half-week immersions in a cozy Iowa town forge unbreakable focus and friendships.”
Mount Vernon, IA
Location
Town
Campus Setting
You'll step into a liberal arts gem founded in 1853 as the Iowa Liberal Institute by abolitionist ministers, quickly renamed Cornell College after a New York philanthropist donated $10,000—though he never set foot here. This small powerhouse in Mount Vernon, Iowa (population 4,500), draws ambitious doers who crave intensity over breadth: think independent thinkers who thrive on solo deep dives rather than hand-holding, but might chafe at the rural pace if you need urban buzz. The school's personality radiates Midwestern warmth with a quirky edge—professors host block-ending barbecues, and the Hilltoppers spirit unites everyone against brutal winters. Tradeoffs hit hard: Cedar Rapids lies 20 minutes away for airports and pro sports, but nightlife means house parties or a drive, and isolation can test extroverts craving big-city diversity.
Photo Gallery
+29
+21
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
Picture yourself owning a single class for 3.5 weeks under the Block Plan (launched 1978), with mornings of lectures, afternoons for labs or fieldwork, and evenings devouring projects— no distractions from parallel courses means you hit 50-60 hours weekly, perfect for concentrators in biology, chemistry, or education where alumni dominate med schools and teach abroad. Faculty (12:1 ratio) ditch lectures for seminars in historic red-brick halls, pulling you into research like mapping exoplanets at the on-campus observatory or dissecting frog viruses in mobile labs. You'll snag internships via 300+ off-campus blocks from Wall Street to Namibia, but the grind weeds out procrastinators, and breadth comes slower than at semester schools.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,094 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
71%
Black / African American
8%
Hispanic / Latino
10%
Asian
3%
Other / Multi-racial
8%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Mount Vernon, IA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week pulses with Block camaraderie: Monday-Wednesday hammers coursework, Thursday wraps with presentations, Friday explodes into bonfires or trivia nights, then weekend hikes in Palisades-Delaware State Park. Nearly 90% live on campus in cozy quads fostering lifelong bonds, with 100+ clubs—from ultimate frisbee to Medieval reenactments—keeping the 1,100 undergrads buzzing despite the small size. Greek life claims 25%, traditions like singing the Paean at convocation bind you, but the vibe skews earnest over wild: no massive frat rows, just bonfires and coffee-shop debates. Winters bury you in snow (sub-zero chills), social dynamics favor joiners over wallflowers, and the fringe-town feel means driving for concerts—bliss for outdoorsy introverts, bland for party hunters.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Midwest Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$17,340
$30K – $48K
$16,660
$48K – $75K
$17,834
$75K – $110K
$23,497
$110K+
$26,392
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
80%
4 Years Graduation Rate
60%
6 Years Graduation Rate
65%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$53,460
80% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Cornell College and return in the fall. 60% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 65% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
60%
4-6 years
5%
Non-grad
35%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$48,514
Acceptance
80%
Undergrads
1,094
4-Year Grad Rate
60%
Endowment
$92M
Mount Vernon, IA 52314-1098
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