Cornell University

www.cornell.edu

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2019 Undergraduate Tuition

$56,550

3.6% growth from 2018

2019 Average Net Price

$28,921

After Financial Aid

2017 Student Loan

1.13%

Default Rate

2019 Acceptance Rate

10.9%

49,114 Applicants

2019 Enrolled Students

24,027

99.6% Full-Time

2018 Graduation Rate

94.5%

3,038 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 Computer Science (372 degrees awarded), Hotel Administration & Management (292 degrees), and General Biological Sciences (282 degrees).

In 2019, 7,745 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Cornell University. 47.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 52.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,528 degrees), 2.25 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1125 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $56,550, which is $28,050 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

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Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $56,550, which is $28,050 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $28,921.

In 2019, 47% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 35% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$56,550

2019 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2019, the cost of tuition at Cornell University was $56,550. The cost of tuition at Cornell University is $28,050 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

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

Average Net Price

$28,921

2019 Value

0.107%

1 Year Growth

In 2019 Cornell University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $28,921. Between 2018 and 2019, the average net price of Cornell University grew by 0.107%.

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

$14,766

Room and Board

$1,150

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Cornell University was of $14,766 in 2019. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,150. The cost of room and board increased by 3.15% between 2018 and 2019. The cost of books and supplies increased by 23.7% 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

47%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

35%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

47% of undergraduate students at Cornell University received grants or loans in 2019. This represents a decline of 9.62% with respect to 2018, when 52% 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.

1.13%

2017 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2017 the default rate for borrower's at Cornell University was 1.13%, which represents 28 out of the 2479 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 49,114 undergraduate applications in 2019, which represents a 4.31% annual decline. Out of those 49,114 applicants, 5,330 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 10.9% acceptance rate.

There were 24,027 students enrolled at Cornell University in 2019, and 71% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Cornell University has an overall enrollment yield of 59.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

10.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2019

5,330

Accepted Out of 49,114

In 2019, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Cornell University was 10.9% (5,330 admissions from 49,114 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2018, which was 10.6%. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of applicants declined by -4.31%, while admissions declined by -2.17%.

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

SAT Scores

71%

Submission Percentage

2,257

Scores Submitted

71% of enrolled first-time students at Cornell University in 2019 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 24,027 students. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 23,921 students and the part-time enrollment is 106. 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 33.6% White, 15.4% Asian, 10.6% Hispanic or Latino, 5.3% Black or African American, 3.81% Two or More Races, 0.25% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0916% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Cornell University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (18.1%), followed by White Male (17.5%) and Asian Female (11.5%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Male (15.4%), followed by White Female (14.2%) and Asian Male (4.39%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

99.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Cornell University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 24,027 students. The full-time enrollment at Cornell University is 23,921 and the part-time enrollment is 106. This means that 99.6% of students enrolled at Cornell University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.6% 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%

2019 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
8,063
Asian
3,709
Hispanic or Latino
2,556

The enrolled student population at Cornell University is 33.6% White, 15.4% Asian, 10.6% Hispanic or Latino, 5.3% Black or African American, 3.81% Two or More Races, 0.25% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0916% 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 50.3% White, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.48% 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, 1,686 students (7.02%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2019, 345 fewer women than men received degrees from Cornell University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Cornell University is white (2,528 degrees awarded). There were 2.25 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1125 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Cornell University is Computer Science (372 degrees awarded), followed by Hotel Administration & Management (292 degrees) and General Biological Sciences (282 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 (597 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (238 degrees), and Engineering (1,435 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 (445,290 people), Other managers (363,696 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (348,434 people), Civil engineers (276,490 people), and Mechanical engineers (205,566 people).

The most specialized majors at Cornell University are Agriculture (597 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (238 degrees), Engineering (1,435 degrees), Legal (333 degrees), and Physical Sciences (220 degrees).

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, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and Diagnostic medical sonographers

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 (568,756 people), Computer Systems Design (455,224 people), Construction (327,944 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (323,130 people), and Electronic component & product manufacturing, n.e.c. (162,250 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

Computer Science
372 degree-majorss awarded
Hotel Administration & Management
292 degree-majorss awarded
General Biological Sciences
282 degree-majorss awarded

In 2019, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Cornell University was Computer Science with 372 degrees 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

4,045

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2019

3,700

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2019

In 2019, 4,045 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University, which is 1.09 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,700).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2019, 507 degrees were awarded to men at Cornell University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 2.01 times more than the 252 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2019, 252 degrees were awarded to women at Cornell University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.497 times less than the 507 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

85%

100% Completion Time

93%

150% Completion Time

In 2019, 85% 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.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Cornell University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (69.1%).

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, 9.25% of graduates (281 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
2,528 degrees awarded
Asian
1,125 degrees awarded
Unknown
761 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Cornell University is white (2,528 degrees awarded). There were 2.25 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1125 degrees).

9.83% of degree recipients (761 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Male
1,361 degrees awarded
White Female
1,167 degrees awarded
Asian Female
604 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Cornell University is white male (1,361 degrees awarded). There were 1.17 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,167 degrees).

Operations

Cornell University has an endowment valued at nearly $6.97B, as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $334M (4.78%), compared to the 4.24% average return ($13.2M on $311M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2019, Cornell University had a total salary expenditure of $2.46B. Cornell University employs 752 Professors, 397 Associate professors, and 353 Assistant professors. Most academics at Cornell University are Male Professors (554), Male Associate professors(234), and Female Professors (198).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 1432 employees, Service, with 1278 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1002 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$6.97B

2019 Endowment

1.5%

growth from 2018

Cornell University has an endowment valued at about $6.97B, as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year. The endowment of Cornell University grew 1.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $6.66B 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

$333M - Federal
$41M - State
$35M - Local

As of 2019, Cornell University received $333M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $41M from state grants and contracts, and $35M from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$1.03B

2019 Salaries

5.2%

growth from 2018

In 2019, Cornell University paid a median of $1.03B in salaries, which represents 41.9% of their overall expenditure ($2.46B) and a 5.2% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.18% growth from 2017 and a 2.95% growth from 2016.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.4% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$267M

Instructional Salaries

1,812

Number of Employees

In 2019, Cornell University paid a total of $267M to 1,812 employees working as instructors, which represents 25.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71.1M (30.3%) 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

1432 Employees

In 2019, the most common positions for instructional staff at Cornell University were Professor with 752 employees; Associate professor with 397 employees; and Associate professor with 353 employees.

In 2019, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cornell University were Office and Administrative Support with 1,432 employees; Service with 1,278 employees; and Business and Financial Operations with 1,002 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Professor

In 2019, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Cornell University was Male Professor with 554 employees, Male Associate professor with 234 employees, and Female Professor with 198 employees.

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

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