Acceptance Rate
9%
Avg. SAT
1570
75th percentile
“Gorge-framed Ivy League land-grant university where hoteliers train alongside engineers amid upstate New York's steep hills.”
Ithaca, NY
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
Ithaca wraps Cornell in a small-city bubble of 30,000, centered on gorges, waterfalls, and Cayuga Lake, fostering an outdoorsy vibe but demanding resilience against long, snowy months and a hilly layout that turns walks to class into workouts. The campus spans multiple colleges—endowed private ones and state-supported contract colleges—creating a patchwork of focuses that suits specialized interests but can feel fragmented compared to unified campuses. High tuition reflects Ivy expectations, paired with Ithaca's moderate cost of living outside dorms.
Photo Gallery
+25
+17
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
You'll navigate seven undergraduate colleges, each with distinct admissions, excelling in engineering, biological sciences via the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, labor relations at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and hospitality at the world-leading School of Hotel Administration. Classrooms mix massive intro lectures in high-demand fields like computer science with intimate upper-level seminars, backed by a 9-to-1 student-faculty ratio that opens research doors early, even for freshmen. Intellectual life buzzes with undergrads publishing papers or prototyping in labs, though popular majors grow competitive after admission, and the decentralized structure means coordinating across colleges takes effort.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
16,128 undergrad • 10,665 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
29%
Black / African American
6%
Hispanic / Latino
11%
Asian
19%
Other / Multi-racial
35%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Ithaca, NY
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Campus hums with over 1,000 clubs, from hiking groups scaling local gorges to a cappella ensembles echoing across Libe Slope; Greek life draws about a quarter of undergrads for social anchors, while others bond in dorms or off-campus houses. Traditions like Dragon Day—architecture students marching a 100-foot paper dragon—inject whimsy, and Slope Day caps spring with concerts on the hill, though the party scene stays contained amid strict policies. A typical week blends late-night study sessions, impromptu frisbee on frozen fields, and weekend escapes to Ithaca's farm stands or trails, but relentless hills and deep snow curb spontaneity, suiting resilient types over homebodies.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
The Ivy League
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
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
$1,862
$30K – $48K
$1,953
$48K – $75K
$4,035
$75K – $110K
$20,449
$110K+
$48,400
Apply for Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA to unlock grants, scholarships, and federal loans.
Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
98%
4 Years Graduation Rate
91%
6 Years Graduation Rate
96%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$104,043
98% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Cornell University and return in the fall. 91% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 96% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
91%
4-6 years
5%
Non-grad
4%
Let’s find your perfect tutor
Answer a few quick questions. We’ll recommend the right plan and match you with a top 5% tutor.
Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$62,456
Acceptance
9%
Undergrads
16,128
4-Year Grad Rate
91%
Endowment
$7.7B
Ithaca, NY 14853
Explore More