Cornell University is situated in Ithaca, New York, with a stunning view of the Cayuga Lakes (photo credit: Justin Ennis).
Situated in Ithaca, New York with a magnificent view of the Cayuga Lakes, the scenic Cornell University campus is the home of seven undergraduate colleges. The Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Art and Planning, and the School of Hotel Administration comprise the private sector of Cornell University. The Colleges of Human Ecology and Agriculture and Life Sciences in addition to the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) comprise the public sector. For students sending in applications to Cornell University admissions, know that these latter colleges are what admissions counselors at Cornell prefer to term contractual colleges.
The cost of tuition at the contractual colleges is less than at the private colleges and for in-state residents, the tuition cost is considerably lower than for out-of-staters. Students applying for Cornell University admission apply to one of the seven colleges.
The School of Hotel Administration is certainly the best in the country in this field and among the best in the world. ILR is a most unique program where students can examine relationships and conflicts between labor and management for the purpose of creating practical solutions. Aspiring veterinarians will not only find their niche at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, but they will have an easier time getting into veterinary school. Of course, let it not be said that there is only one university in the Ivy League that has an undergraduate business major. Within Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, students can major in “Applied Economics and Management.” Cornell is also considered a premier research university.
No doubt the university is a rigorous academic environment, but the approximately 15,000 undergraduates who call Cornell home quite often love it and are able to balance work and play. For those who enjoy fine cuisine, Cornell’s food service is one of the very best in the nation. Good thing — because the eateries in Collegetown leave something to be desired. Ok, a lot to be desired!
For the Class of 2023, 10.6% of students who sent in applications to Cornell University Admissions earned spots. 8.8% of applicants during the Regular Decision round earned admission, while 22.6% of Early Decision applicants to the university earned admission. For a targeted class of 3,175 (100 students less than for the Class of 2022) a total of 49,118 students applied for the Class of 2023. This was 2,210 fewer applicants than for the Class of 2022. The overall admit rate for the Class of 2022 was 10.3%.
Cornell University Admissions Statistics
| Cornell University | Overall Accept. Rate | Regular Decision Accept. Rate | Regular Decision Apps Accepted | Regular Decision Apps Received | Early Decision / Action Accept. Rate | Percent of Class Filled by Early Apps | Early Decision / Action Apps Received | Early Decision / Action Apps Accepted | Expected Number of Students to Enroll | Total Apps Received | Total Apps Accepted |
| 2026 | 6.9% | 5.0% | 3,077 | 61,609 | 19.2% | 51.8% | 9,555 | 1,831 | 3,533 | 71,064 | 4,908 |
| 2025 | 8.7% | 6.7% | 3,922 | 58,363 | 21.4% | 51.3% | 9,017 | 1,930 | 3,765 | 67,380 | 5,836 |
| 2024 | 10.7% | 8.7% | 3,920 | 44,870 | 24.0% | 29.9% | 6,630 | 1,594 | 3,296 | 51,500 | 5,514 |
| 2023 | 10.6% | 8.8% | 3,788 | 42,959 | 22.6% | 43.9% | 6,159 | 1,395 | 3,175 | 49,118 | 5,183 |
| 2022 | 10.3% | 8.3% | 3,755 | 45,009 | 24.3% | 46.8% | 6,319 | 1,533 | 3,275 | 51,328 | 5,288 |
| 2021 | 12.9% | 10.8% | 4,511 | 41,654 | 25.6% | 42.1% | 5,384 | 1,378 | 3,275 | 47,038 | 5,889 |
| 2020 | 14.1% | 12.5% | 4,997 | 40,083 | 27.4% | 40.9% | 4,882 | 1,340 | 3,275 | 44,965 | 6,337 |
| 2019 | 15.1% | 13.7% | 5,119 | 37,340 | 26.2% | 37.5% | 4,560 | 1,196 | 3,190 | 41,900 | 6,315 |
| 2018 | 14.0% | 12.3% | 4,689 | 38,266 | 27.7% | 41.5% | 4,775 | 1,325 | 3,190 | 43,041 | 6,014 |
| 2017 | 15.2% | 13.9% | 4,825 | 35,813 | 29.5% | 38.9% | 4,193 | 1,237 | 3,182 | 40,006 | 6,062 |
| 2016 | 16.2% | 14.5% | 4,943 | 32,203 | 32.7% | 37.1% | 3,609 | 1,180 | 3,182 | 37,812 | 6,123 |
| 2015 | 18% | 16.1% | 5,306 | 32,936 | 35.5% | 39% | 3,456 | 1,228 | 3,150 | 36,392 | 6,534 |
| 2014 | 18.4% | 16.8% | 5,498 | 32,744 | 32.7% | 37.3% | 3,594 | 1,175 | 3,150 | 36,338 | 6,673 |
| 2013 | 17.4% | 15.5% | 5,318 | 34,381 | 36.7% | 39.7% | 3,405 | 1,249 | 3,150 | 37,786 | 6,567 |
| 2012 | 20.4% | 18.7% | 5,591 | 29,916 | 36.8% | 37.3% | 3,095 | 1,139 | 3,050 | 33,011 | 6,730 |
| 2011 | 20.5% | 18.7% | 5,126 | 27,365 | 36.6% | 36.2% | 3,017 | 1,103 | 3,050 | 30,382 | 6,229 |
| 2010 | 24.7% | 23% | 5,817 | 25,248 | 39% | 36.4% | 2,849 | 1,110 | 3,050 | 28,097 | 6,927 |
| 2009 | 26.1% | 24.3% | 5,312 | 21,872 | 41.7% | 35.1% | 2,572 | 1,072 | 3,050 | 24,444 | 6,384 |
| 2008 | 28.7% | 26.6% | 4,856 | 18,270 | 43.9% | 36% | 2,550 | 1,119 | 3,105 | 20,820 | 5,975 |
| 2007 | 30.9% | 29.4% | 5,213 | 17,713 | 40.7% | 37% | 2,729 | 1,110 | 3,000 | 20,442 | 6,323 |
NYP = not yet published
