Cornell University : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Cornell University
Carved into hills above deep gorges, Cornell has a reputation for pairing big-idea research with hands-on learning. Students move easily between science, engineering, and the arts, guided by faculty who expect questions and welcome collaboration. Libraries, labs, studios, and workshops stay humming, and campus services like advising, tutoring, and wellness support help keep the pace humane.
Life here is energetic and outdoorsy. Clubs, performances, and intramurals crowd the calendar, while trails, waterfalls, and the nearby lake pull students outside whenever the weather cooperates. The culture leans curious, practical, and unpretentious. Career centers help line up internships and alumni mentors, with plenty of real-world practice baked in. The bell chimes from the tower mark the day, a small tradition that sticks. Downtown Ithaca brings coffee, bookstores, and a friendly arts scene. Notable alumni include Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bill Nye, and E. B. White.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Cornell University offers 131 degree programs across 25 major academic fields, graduating approximately 8,744 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Business (9 programs, 1,736 graduates), Engineering (15 programs, 1,466 graduates), Computer & IT (4 programs, 1,400 graduates), Agriculture (10 programs, 587 graduates) and Biological Sciences (16 programs, 503 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Business (9 programs, 1,736 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | 543 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52.0201 |
| Labor and Industrial Relations | 349 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52.1002 |
| Hotel and Motel Management | 337 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0904 |
| Management Science | 286 |
|
Master's
|
52.1301 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 94 |
|
Master's
|
52.1399 |
| Business Statistics | 52 |
|
Master's
|
52.1302 |
| Hospitality Management | 29 |
|
Master's
|
52.0901 |
| Human Resources Management | 25 |
|
Master's
|
52.1001 |
| Real Estate | 21 |
|
Master's
|
52.1501 |
Engineering (15 programs, 1,466 graduates)
Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 272 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1901 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 255 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1001 |
| Operations Research | 230 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.3701 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 176 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0501 |
| Systems Engineering | 129 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.2701 |
| Chemical Engineering | 86 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0701 |
| Materials Engineering | 83 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1801 |
| Civil Engineering | 79 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0801 |
| Engineering Physics | 52 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1201 |
| Aerospace Engineering | 32 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0201 |
| Environmental Health Engineering | 26 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.1401 |
| Biological and Biosystems Engineering | 24 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.4501 |
| Agricultural Engineering | 17 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.0301 |
| General Engineering | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
14.0101 |
| Engineering Mechanics | 2 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14.1101 |
Computer & IT (4 programs, 1,400 graduates)
Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 874 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0701 |
| Information Technology | 420 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
11.0103 |
| IT Project Management | 86 |
|
Master's
|
11.1005 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
|
11.0101 |
Agriculture (10 programs, 587 graduates)
Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Economics | 245 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0103 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 116 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
01.8001 |
| Animal Sciences | 89 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.0901 |
| Food Science | 67 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1001 |
| Plant Sciences | 27 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
01.1101 |
| Horticultural Science | 13 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1103 |
| International Agriculture | 11 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.0701 |
| Viticulture and Enology | 7 |
|
Bachelor's
|
01.1004 |
| Agronomy and Crop Science | 7 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1102 |
| Plant Breeding | 5 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
01.1104 |
Biological Sciences (16 programs, 503 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology and Biological Sciences | 296 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0101 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 83 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.9999 |
| Biometry and Biometrics | 33 |
|
Bachelor's
|
26.1101 |
| Entomology | 19 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0702 |
| Molecular Biology | 13 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0204 |
| Genetics | 13 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0801 |
| Biophysics | 8 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0203 |
| Biochemistry | 7 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0202 |
| Botany and Plant Biology | 6 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0301 |
| Microbiology | 6 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0502 |
| Plant Pathology | 5 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26.0305 |
| Parasitology | 4 |
|
Master's
|
26.0505 |
| Computational Biology | 3 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1104 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1303 |
| Ecology | 2 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1301 |
| Neurobiology and Behavior | 2 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
26.1504 |
Social Sciences (9 programs, 490 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 247 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0603 |
| Political Science and Government | 138 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1001 |
| Sociology | 36 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1101 |
| Rural Sociology | 22 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.1103 |
| International Relations | 15 |
|
Master's
|
45.0901 |
| Anthropology | 14 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45.0201 |
| Archaeology | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45.0301 |
| Development Economics and International Development | 6 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0604 |
| Social Sciences | 3 |
|
Master's
|
45.9999 |
Law (2 programs, 400 graduates)
Legal Studies, Jurisprudence and Professional Law Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Legal Studies | 205 |
|
Master's
|
22.0203 |
| Law | 195 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
22.0101 |
Physical Sciences (6 programs, 265 graduates)
Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 123 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0501 |
| Physics | 84 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0801 |
| Astronomy | 24 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0201 |
| Earth Sciences | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
|
40.0699 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 7 |
|
Bachelor's
|
40.0401 |
| Geology and Earth Science | 6 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
40.0601 |
Mathematics (3 programs, 243 graduates)
Mathematical Sciences, Statistics and Computational Analysis
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 132 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0101 |
| Statistics | 100 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0501 |
| Applied Mathematics | 11 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27.0301 |
Public Services (4 programs, 210 graduates)
Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Administration | 129 |
|
Master's
|
44.0401 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 69 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
44.0501 |
| Health Policy Analysis | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
44.0503 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 2 |
|
Master's
|
44.0201 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Cornell University.
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Cornell University
How much does it cost to attend Cornell University?
The annual tuition at Cornell University is $66,014 for in-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $88,140 for in-state students. Additional costs include room and board $18,554 and books and supplies $1,354.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Cornell University offer?
Cornell University offers 131 academic programs across 25 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional).
Most popular program areas include:
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (9 programs)
- Engineering Sciences and Applied Technology Solutions (15 programs)
- Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity (4 programs)
- Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (10 programs)
- Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research (16 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Cornell University?
Cornell University has an 8.2% acceptance rate and a 66% yield rate, making it highly selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 65,635
- Students admitted: 5,358
- Students enrolled: 3,537
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Cornell University?
Cornell University provides financial aid to 22% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $56,741 and average loans of $8,574.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,708
- State/Local grants: $3,557
- Institutional grants: $55,091
- Federal loans: $4,122
The university supports 1,767 students with grants and 1,003 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Cornell University graduates?
Cornell University graduates earn a median salary of $87,830 after 6 years and $104,043 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $67,090 (25th percentile) to $166,446 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $178,800 (90th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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