Cornell University

It is extremely difficult to get into Cornell University. In 2022, Cornell University accepted just 7% of all applicants. In 2023, just 5,168 out of the 71,164 students who applied were accepted.

If you are planning on applying to Cornell University, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/2 and the application fee is $80.

Cornell University Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Cornell University's admissions stats.

Cornell University 2023	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	82%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	43%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	17%
Waitlist	Yes

Cornell University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Cornell University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	December 15
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	No	–	–
Regular Decision	Yes	1 2	–

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Considering Applying Early to Cornell University?

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Cornell University offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

The early decision acceptance rate at Cornell University is 19%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 7%. In 2022, Cornell University admitted 1831 of the 9555 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply to college early to increase their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of being admitted, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.

➡️ See a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Cornell University Admissions

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Is Cornell University Challenging To Get Into?

It is extremely difficult to get into Cornell. Cornell evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.

In 2022, Cornell accepted 7% of all applicants, about 5,168 of the 71,164 students who applied.

Schools that are extremely difficult to get into, like Cornell, accept fewer than 30% of all applicants. At least 75% of admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT or over 29 on the ACT.

Transferring to Cornell University

Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Cornell University

In 2022, Cornell University waitlisted 7,729 students and 5,531 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 260 eventually got off the waitlist.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Cornell University?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college has a different way of determining which factors are given the most weight in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the admissions factors where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Cornell University

What does Cornell University consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Talent/Ability	Very Important
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Class Rank	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with Cornell University for more information on admission factors.

Cornell University 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Cornell University, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with Cornell University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview	–	–	√	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Cornell University?

Cornell University has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 19.4% submitted a class rank. At Cornell University 82% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 96% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Cornell University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	–
3.75 and 3.99	–
3.50 and 3.74	–
3.25 and 3.49	–
3.00 and 3.24	–
2.50 and 2.9	–
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Cornell University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Cornell University has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 43% of Cornell University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 17% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Cornell University?

To be competitive with other Cornell University applicants, you should aim to earn between 1470 and 1550 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Cornell University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1550 and 25% of scored lower than 1470, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Cornell University students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 710 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Cornell University students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 710 or higher.

To be most competitive at Cornell University, you should strive to earn between 33 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Cornell University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 33 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Cornell University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 33.

More Information on Transferring to Cornell University

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Cornell University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15.

Transfer students can enroll in Cornell University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Cornell University Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Cornell University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Cornell University.

Does Cornell University accept transfer credits?

✅ Cornell University accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Cornell University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Cornell University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Cornell University?

❌ No, Cornell University is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you should strongly consider submitting them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Cornell University's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for Cornell University is 7%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Cornell University?

✅ Cornell University's early decision acceptance rate was 19% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Cornell University?

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