Cornell University

www.cornell.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$65,204

4.4% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$26,455

After Financial Aid

2021 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

8.16%

65,635 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

26,264

96.5% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

95.1%

3,174 Graduates

About

Cornell University is a higher education institution located in Tompkins County, NY. In 2023, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Cornell University were General Business Administration & Management (574 degrees awarded), Management Science (305 degrees), and Computer Science (290 degrees).

In 2023, 8,782 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Cornell University. 50.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 49.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,578 degrees), 1.81 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,428 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $65,204, which is $34,201 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Cornell University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 2,526 total borrowers.

Photo by generalising

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $65,204, which is $34,201 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,455.

In 2023, 50% of undergraduate students attending Cornell University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 24% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$65,204

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Cornell University was $65,204. The cost of tuition at Cornell University is $34,201 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

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

Average Net Price

$26,455

2023 Value

1.52%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Cornell University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,455. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Cornell University grew by 1.52%.

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

$16,988

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Cornell University was of $16,988 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.61% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

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

Financial Aid by Income Level

50%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

24%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

50% of undergraduate students at Cornell University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 2.04% with respect to 2022, when 49% 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.

2021 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2021 the default rate for borrower's at Cornell University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 2526 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 65,635 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 5.14% annual growth. Out of those 65,635 applicants, 5,358 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 8.16% acceptance rate.

There were 26,264 students enrolled at Cornell University in 2023. 37% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Cornell University has an overall enrollment yield of 66%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

8.16%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

5,358

Accepted Out of 65,635

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Cornell University was 8.16% (5,358 admissions from 65,635 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 7.47%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 5.14%, while admissions grew by 3.68%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Cornell University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

37%

Submission Percentage (2023)

1,294

Scores Submitted (2023)

37% of enrolled first-time students at Cornell University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Cornell University had a total enrollment of 26,264 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 25,334 students and the part-time enrollment is 930. This means that 96.5% of students enrolled at Cornell University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Cornell University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 28.9% White, 18.9% Asian, 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 5.94% Black or African American, 4.2% Two or More Races, 0.202% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.11% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Cornell University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (16.6%), followed by White Male (15.3%) and Asian Female (13.9%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (12.7%), followed by White Male (11.9%) and Asian Female (4.72%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

96.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Cornell University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 26,264 students. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 25,334 and the part-time enrollment is 930. This means that 96.5% of students enrolled at Cornell University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% 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

98%

2023 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 98%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2023)

White
7,586 enrolled students
Asian
4,976 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,932 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Cornell University is 28.9% White, 18.9% Asian, 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 5.94% Black or African American, 4.2% Two or More Races, 0.202% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.11% 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 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% 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, 1,286 students (4.9%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 166 more women than men received degrees from Cornell University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Cornell University is white (2,578 degrees awarded). There were 1.81 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,428 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Cornell University is General Business Administration & Management (574 degrees awarded), followed by Management Science (305 degrees) and Computer Science (290 degrees).

In 2023, 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 (723 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (224 degrees), and Engineering (1,485 degrees).

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 (495,830 people), Other managers (388,020 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (378,830 people), Civil engineers (304,875 people), and Mechanical engineers (218,994 people).

The most specialized majors at Cornell University in 2023 are Agriculture (723 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (224 degrees), Engineering (1,485 degrees), Legal (372 degrees), and Physical Sciences (248 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

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 Surgeons, Podiatrists, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Cornell University are Agriculture (723 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (224 degrees), Engineering (1,485 degrees), Legal (372 degrees), and Physical Sciences (248 degrees) (as of 2023).

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 (602,517 people), uninformed (535,539 people), Computer Systems Design (509,882 people), Construction (360,004 people), and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (330,739 people).

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 (2023)

Computer Science
507 degrees awarded
Hotel Administration & Management
290 degrees awarded
Labor & Industrial Relations
273 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Cornell University was Computer Science with 507 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,308

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

4,474

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 4,308 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University, which is 0.963 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,474).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 514 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University in Computer Science, which is 1.66 times more than the 309 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 309 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University in Computer Science, which is 0.601 times less than the 514 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

88%

100% Completion Time

94%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 88% of students graduating from Cornell University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 94% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 95% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Cornell University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (74.3%).

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, 7.56% of graduates (240 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
2,578 degrees awarded
Asian
1,428 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
821 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Cornell University is white (2,578 degrees awarded). There were 1.81 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,428 degrees).

5.33% of degree recipients (468 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Male
1,328 degrees awarded
White Female
1,250 degrees awarded
Asian Female
792 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Cornell University is white male (1,328 degrees awarded). There were 1.06 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,250 degrees).

Operations

Cornell University has an endowment valued at nearly $9.55B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 319M (3.34%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, Cornell University had a total salary expenditure of 2.92B. Cornell University employs 775 Professors, 435 Assistant professors and 407 Associate professors. Most academics at Cornell University are Male Professor (551), Male Associate professor (232), and Female Professor (224).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University are: Service, with 1,491 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 1,478 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,255 employees.

Endowment

$9.55B

2023 Endowment

2.22%

growth from 2022

Cornell University has an endowment valued at about $9.55B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Cornell University grew 2.22% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $9.12B 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

$402M - Federal
$59.5M - State
$2.63M - Local

As of 2023, Cornell University received $402M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $59.5M from state grants and contracts, and $2.63M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$1.25B

2023 Salaries

9.59%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Cornell University paid a median of $1.25B in salaries, which represents 42.8% of their overall expenditure ($2.92B) and a 9.59% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.42% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 1.11% growth between 2020 and 2021.

Instructional Salaries

$322M

Instructional Salaries

1,964

Number of Employees

In 2023, Cornell University paid a total of $322M to 1,964 employees working as instructors, which represents 25.8% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

775 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

1,491 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Cornell University were Professor with 775 employees, Assistant professor with 435 employees, and Associate professor with 407 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University were Service with 1,491 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 1,478 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,255 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Cornell University was Male Professor with 551 employees, Male Associate professor with 232 employees, and Female Professor with 224 employees.

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

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