Cornell University is an Ivy League research university in Ithaca, New York — unique in that it spans private and public (state-funded) colleges. Its overall acceptance rate of approximately 8% is higher than most Ivy peers, but varies significantly by college, with the College of Engineering and School of Hotel Administration being particularly competitive.
Cornell Overall Acceptance Rate (2025–2026)
| Admissions Cycle | Applications | Admitted | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 (2024 entry) | ~67,000 | ~5,360 | ~8.0% |
| Class of 2027 | ~67,380 | ~5,524 | ~8.2% |
| Class of 2026 | ~67,380 | ~5,185 | ~7.7% |
| Class of 2020 | ~44,966 | ~6,277 | ~14.0% |
Cornell's acceptance rate has dropped substantially — from 14% a decade ago to under 9% — reflecting application growth as Cornell's national profile has risen.
Cornell Acceptance Rate by College (Undergraduate)
Cornell is unique among Ivy League schools in that applicants apply directly to a specific college or school:
| College / School | Est. Acceptance Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| College of Engineering | ~7–9% | Very competitive |
| School of Hotel Administration (SHA) | ~15–18% | World's top hospitality school |
| Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management | ~8–12% | Part of CALS |
| College of Arts and Sciences | ~9–12% | |
| College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) | ~10–14% | Portfolio required |
| College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) | ~20–25% | Broader acceptance |
| College of Human Ecology | ~20–25% | |
| Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) | ~18–22% | Public college |
| College of Computing and Information Science (CIS) | ~8–12% |
State-Funded Colleges at Cornell
Cornell's CALS, Human Ecology, and ILR schools are partially state-funded and historically somewhat more accessible — though still highly selective.
Cornell Early Decision Acceptance Rate
| Round | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Early Decision I (November) | ~22–24% |
| Regular Decision | ~6–7% |
Cornell's Early Decision acceptance rate is roughly 3 times higher than Regular Decision — a significant advantage for first-choice applicants.
Cornell Graduate Acceptance Rates
| Programme | Est. Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Johnson Graduate School of Management (MBA) | ~25–30% |
| Cornell Law (LLM) | ~25–30% |
| Weill Cornell Medicine (MD) | ~3–4% |
| Graduate School — Engineering (PhD) | ~8–12% |
| Graduate School — Computer Science (PhD) | ~5–8% |
| Graduate School — Economics (PhD) | ~5–10% |
| Cornell School of Hotel Administration (MPS) | ~25–30% |
| Graduate School — Humanities (PhD) | ~8–12% |
| ILR (MILR) | ~30–35% |
What Admitted Cornell Students Look Like
Academic Profile
| Metric | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| GPA (unweighted) | 3.80 – 4.0 |
| SAT | 1450 – 1550 (middle 50%) |
| ACT | 33 – 35 (middle 50%) |
Cornell's academic profile is slightly more accessible than Harvard/MIT/Stanford/Yale but remains extremely competitive. The 1450–1550 SAT range reflects a more diverse academic background than schools with 1500–1580 ranges.
Cornell's Unique Culture
Cornell is known for its work-hard culture — students face rigorous academic demands, particularly in Engineering and Natural Sciences. Admitted students typically demonstrate:
- Genuine intellectual passion in the specific area of their chosen school
- Strong mathematical ability for Engineering and Computing applicants
- Demonstrated interest and experience in hospitality for SHA applicants
- Agricultural, scientific, or environmental focus for CALS applicants
International Students at Cornell
Cornell's undergraduate class is approximately 10–12% international students. Cornell is need-aware for international undergraduates. Graduate programmes have significant international cohorts — particularly in Engineering (often 50%+ international).
IELTS and TOEFL for Cornell
| Programme | TOEFL Min | IELTS Min | Competitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 100 | 7.5 | 110–120 TOEFL |
| Graduate School | 77 (floor) | 6.5 | 100–120 TOEFL |
| Johnson MBA | No min | No min | 109–120 TOEFL |
| Cornell Law (LLM) | 100 | 7.0 | 107–120 TOEFL |
| Weill Cornell Medicine | 100 | 7.5 | 113–120 TOEFL |
The Graduate School 77 iBT floor is the minimum — most departments expect considerably higher. The competitive score is 100–120.
How to Improve Your Cornell Application
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Apply to the right college — because applicants apply directly to a school at Cornell, the fit between your background/goals and the school matters. Applying to Engineering because it's "impressive" without genuine engineering interest is transparent and weakens the application.
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Early Decision is significant — if Cornell is your first choice, applying Early Decision increases your odds by approximately 3x compared to Regular Decision.
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For SHA (Hotel Administration): demonstrate genuine hospitality experience — Cornell SHA is the world's best hospitality school. Applicants without genuine food/beverage/hotel/event management experience rarely succeed.
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For Johnson MBA: show post-MBA clarity — Cornell Johnson values applicants with specific post-MBA plans, not vague "leadership" goals.
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IELTS 7.5 for undergraduate; 7.0+ for graduate — competitive international applicants aim for 7.5+ IELTS or 107+ TOEFL.
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble — Cornell undergraduate requires IELTS 7.5; graduate programmes require 6.5 minimum but competitive admits score 7.5+. AI-powered band-level feedback. Or prepare for TOEFL.