Cornell University

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2017 Undergraduate Tuition

$52,612

3.75% growth from 2016

2017 Average Net Price

$31,449

After Financial Aid

2016 Student Loan

1.08%

Default Rate

2017 Acceptance Rate

12.7%

47,039 Applicants

2017 Enrolled Students

23,016

99.6% Full-Time

2017 Graduation Rate

93.4%

3,082 Graduates

About

Cornell University is a higher education institution located in Tompkins County, NY. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Cornell University were General Biological Sciences (301 degrees awarded), Computer Science (300 degrees), and Labor & Industrial Relations (265 degrees).

In 2017, 7,455 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Cornell University. 46.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 53.2% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (2,625 degrees), 2.49 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1054 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $52,612, which is $26,112 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

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Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $52,612, which is $26,112 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $31,449.

In 2017, 53% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 30% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$52,612

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2017, the cost of tuition at Cornell University was $52,612. The cost of tuition at Cornell University is $26,112 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Cornell University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$31,449

2017 Value

4.78%

1 Year Growth

In 2017 Cornell University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $31,449. Between 2016 and 2017, the average net price of Cornell University grew by 4.78%.

This chart compares the average net price of Cornell University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,900

Room and Board

$910

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Cornell University was of $13,900 in 2017. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $910. The cost of room and board increased by 1.62% between 2016 and 2017. The cost of books and supplies increased by 2.25% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Cornell University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

53%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

30%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

53% of undergraduate students at Cornell University received grants or loans in 2017. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2016, when 53% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Cornell University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.08%

2016 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2016 the default rate for borrower's at Cornell University was 1.08%, which represents 29 out of the 2674 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Cornell University received 47,039 undergraduate applications in 2017, which represents a 4.61% annual growth. Out of those 47,039 applicants, 5,962 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 12.7% acceptance rate.

There were 23,016 students enrolled at Cornell University in 2017, and 64% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Cornell University has an overall enrollment yield of 56.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

12.7%

Acceptance Rate in 2017

5,962

Accepted Out of 47,039

In 2017, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Cornell University was 12.7% (5,962 admissions from 47,039 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2016, which was 14.1%. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of applicants grew by 4.61%, while admissions declined by -5.92%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Cornell University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

64%

Submission Percentage

2,129

Scores Submitted

64% of enrolled first-time students at Cornell University in 2017 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Cornell University has a total enrollment of 23,016 students. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 22,923 students and the part-time enrollment is 93. This means that 99.6% of students enrolled at Cornell University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Cornell University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 35.9% White, 14.8% Asian, 10.2% Hispanic or Latino, 5.06% Black or African American, 3.53% Two or More Races, 0.291% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.104% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Cornell University in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Male (19.5%), followed by White Female (18.7%) and Asian Female (10.8%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Male (17%), followed by White Female (14%) and Asian Male (3.98%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

99.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Cornell University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 23,016 students. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 22,923 and the part-time enrollment is 93. This means that 99.6% of students enrolled at Cornell University are enrolled full-time compared with 78% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Cornell University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

97%

2017 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Cornell University was 97%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), Cornell University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Cornell University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
8,258
Asian
3,405
Hispanic or Latino
2,347

The enrolled student population at Cornell University is 35.9% White, 14.8% Asian, 10.2% Hispanic or Latino, 5.06% Black or African American, 3.53% Two or More Races, 0.291% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.104% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 51.5% White, 13.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.57% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,864 students (8.1%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2017, 475 fewer women than men received degrees from Cornell University. The majority of degree recipients at Cornell University are white (2,625 degrees awarded). There were 2.49 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1054 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Cornell University is General Biological Sciences (301 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Science (300 degrees) and Labor & Industrial Relations (265 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Cornell University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Agriculture (613 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (238 degrees), and Engineering (1,462 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Cornell University are Software developers (387,861 people), Other managers (362,658 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (305,108 people), Civil engineers (232,803 people), and Mechanical engineers (173,554 people).

The most specialized majors at Cornell University are Agriculture (613 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (238 degrees), Engineering (1,462 degrees), Legal (332 degrees), and Math & Statistics (201 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Chemists & materials scientists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Cornell University are Chemists & materials scientists, Dentists, Surgeons, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Aircraft pilots & flight engineers

Common Industries by Major

Architectural, engineering & related services

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Cornell University are Architectural, engineering & related services (518,486 people), Computer Systems Design (445,628 people), Construction (293,042 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (261,439 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (192,137 people).

Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Cornell University.

Most Common

General Biological Sciences
301 degree-majorss awarded
Computer Science
300 degree-majorss awarded
Labor & Industrial Relations
265 degree-majorss awarded

In 2017, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Cornell University was General Biological Sciences with 301 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Cornell University according to their major.

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

3,965
3,490

In 2017, 3,965 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University, which is 1.14 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,490).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Cornell University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2017, 496 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 2.82 times more than the 176 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2017, 193 degrees were awarded to women at Cornell University in Labor & Industrial Relations, which is 1.21 times more than the 160 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

86%

100% Completion Time

93%

150% Completion Time

In 2017, 86% of students graduating from Cornell University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 93% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 94% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (95.9%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Cornell University is Female and Asian (95.9% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (68.1%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 9.44% of graduates (291 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
2,625 degrees awarded
Asian
1,054 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
561 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Cornell University is white (2,625 degrees awarded). There were 2.49 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1054 degrees).

7.42% of degree recipients (553 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Male
1,422 degrees awarded
White Female
1,203 degrees awarded
Asian Male
542 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Cornell University is white male (1,422 degrees awarded). There were 1.18 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,203 degrees).

Operations

Cornell University has an endowment valued at nearly $6.52B, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $612M (9.39%), compared to the 5.91% average return ($16.9M on $287M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2017, Cornell University had a total salary expenditure of $2.19B. Cornell University employs 752 Professors, 392 Associate professors, and 341 Assistant professors. Most academics at Cornell University are Male Professors (558), Male Associate professors(236), and Male Assistant professors (206).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 1427 employees, Service, with 1200 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 930 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$6.52B

2017 Endowment

44%

growth from 2016

Cornell University has an endowment valued at about $6.52B, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The endowment of Cornell University grew 44% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $6.23B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Cornell University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$295M - Federal
$33M - State
$32.6M - Local

As of 2017, Cornell University received $295M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $33M from state grants and contracts, and $32.6M from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$943M

2017 Salaries

2.95%

growth from 2016

In 2017, Cornell University paid a median of $943M in salaries, which represents 43% of their overall expenditure ($2.19B) and a 2.95% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.67% decline from 2015 and a 5.88% growth from 2014.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 215M (42.7% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$253M

Instructional Salaries

1,784

Number of Employees

In 2017, Cornell University paid a total of $253M to 1,784 employees working as instructors, which represents 26.8% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $64.9M (30.2%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

752 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1427 Employees

In 2017, the most common positions for instructional staff at Cornell University were Professor with 752 employees; Associate professor with 392 employees; and Associate professor with 341 employees.

In 2017, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University were Office and Administrative Support with 1,427 employees; Service with 1,200 employees; and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 930 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Male Assistant professor

In 2017, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Cornell University was Male Professor with 558 employees, Male Associate professor with 236 employees, and Male Assistant professor with 206 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Cornell University.

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