Cornell University

www.cornell.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$68,380

4.87% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$26,361

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

8.76%

62,993 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

26,793

96.1% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

95.4%

3,135 Graduates

About

Cornell University is a higher education institution located in Tompkins County, NY. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Cornell University were General Business Administration & Management (537 degrees awarded), Computer Science (312 degrees), and Management Science (286 degrees).

In 2024, 8,826 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Cornell University. 51.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 48.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,512 degrees), 1.6 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,574 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $68,380, which is $36,460 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

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Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $68,380, which is $36,460 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,361.

In 2024, 50% of undergraduate students attending Cornell University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 18% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$68,380

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cornell University was $68,380. The cost of tuition at Cornell University is $36,460 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

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

Average Net Price

$26,361

2024 Value

0.355%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Cornell University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,361. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Cornell University grew by 0.355%.

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

$18,554

Room and Board

$1,354

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Cornell University was of $18,554 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 9.22% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,354. The cost of books and supplies increased by 35.4% 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

18%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

50% of undergraduate students at Cornell University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2023, when 50% 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.

Admissions

Cornell University received 62,993 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 4.03% annual growth. Out of those 62,993 applicants, 5,516 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 8.76% acceptance rate.

There were 26,793 students enrolled at Cornell University in 2024. 40% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Cornell University has an overall enrollment yield of 63.9%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

8.76%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

5,516

Accepted Out of 62,993

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Cornell University was 8.76% (5,516 admissions from 62,993 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 8.16%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 4.03%, while admissions grew by 2.95%.

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

40%

Submission Percentage (2024)

1,424

Scores Submitted (2024)

40% of enrolled first-time students at Cornell University in 2024 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 26,793 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 25,750 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,043. This means that 96.1% of students enrolled at Cornell University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Cornell University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 27.9% White, 20.3% Asian, 10.3% Hispanic or Latino, 5.54% Black or African American, 4.37% Two or More Races, 0.183% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.105% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Cornell University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (16.4%), followed by White Male (14.8%) and Asian Female (14.6%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (12.2%), followed by White Male (10.9%) and Asian Female (4.9%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

96.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Cornell University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 26,793 students. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 25,750 and the part-time enrollment is 1,043. This means that 96.1% of students enrolled at Cornell University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% 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%

2024 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 (82%), 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 (2024)

White
7,485 enrolled students
Asian
5,451 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,760 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Cornell University is 27.9% White, 20.3% Asian, 10.3% Hispanic or Latino, 5.54% Black or African American, 4.37% Two or More Races, 0.183% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.105% 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 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% 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, 1,422 students (5.31%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 224 more women than men received degrees from Cornell University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Cornell University is white (2,512 degrees awarded). There were 1.6 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,574 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Cornell University is General Business Administration & Management (537 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Science (312 degrees) and Management Science (286 degrees).

In 2024, 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 (669 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (205 degrees), and Engineering (1,466 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 (524,535 people), Other managers (398,273 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (389,395 people), Civil engineers (318,358 people), and Mechanical engineers (224,462 people).

The most specialized majors at Cornell University in 2024 are Agriculture (669 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (205 degrees), Engineering (1,466 degrees), Legal (400 degrees), and Physical Sciences (265 degrees) (as of 2024).

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, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Podiatrists, Physicians, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Cornell University are Agriculture (669 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (205 degrees), Engineering (1,466 degrees), Legal (400 degrees), and Physical Sciences (265 degrees) (as of 2024).

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 (625,135 people), Computer Systems Design (533,484 people), Construction (374,133 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (340,882 people), and Aircraft & parts manufacturing (202,003 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 (2024)

Computer Science
527 degrees awarded
Labor & Industrial Relations
286 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
277 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Cornell University was Computer Science with 527 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

4,301

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

4,525

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 4,301 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University, which is 0.95 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,525).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 571 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University in Computer Science, which is 1.88 times more than the 303 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 303 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University in Computer Science, which is 0.531 times less than the 571 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

89%

100% Completion Time

96%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 89% of students graduating from Cornell University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 96% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 96% 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.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (97.9%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Cornell University is Female and Asian (97.9% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

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, 7.85% of graduates (246 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
2,512 degrees awarded
Asian
1,574 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
822 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Cornell University is white (2,512 degrees awarded). There were 1.6 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,574 degrees).

4.79% of degree recipients (423 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Male
1,562 degrees awarded
White Male
1,546 degrees awarded
White Male
1,538 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Cornell University is white male (1,562 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,546 degrees).

Operations

Cornell University has an endowment valued at nearly $10.2B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 776M (7.63%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Cornell University had a total salary expenditure of 3.18B. Cornell University employs 790 Professors, 469 Assistant professors and 428 Associate professors. Most academics at Cornell University are Male Professor (555), Female Assistant professor (242), and Male Associate professor (240).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University are: Service, with 1,501 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 1,481 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,325 employees.

Endowment

$10.2B

2024 Endowment

6.54%

growth from 2023

Cornell University has an endowment valued at about $10.2B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Cornell University grew 6.54% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $9.93B 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

$448M - Federal
$64.8M - State
$1.7M - Local

As of 2024, Cornell University received $448M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $64.8M from state grants and contracts, and $1.7M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$1.35B

2024 Salaries

8.18%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Cornell University paid a median of $1.35B in salaries, which represents 42.4% of their overall expenditure ($3.18B) and a 8.18% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 9.59% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.42% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$342M

Instructional Salaries

2,008

Number of Employees

In 2024, Cornell University paid a total of $342M to 2,008 employees working as instructors, which represents 25.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University were Service with 1,501 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 1,481 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,325 employees.

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