Cornell received 71064 applications. The overall acceptance rate reached 7.5 percent. Academic metrics for admitted students show a middle 50 percent SAT range of 1480 to 1560 along with an average unweighted GPA of 4.0.
Key Takeaways
- Middle 50% SAT for enrolled Class of 2028: 1480-1560
- Average unweighted GPA of admits: 4.0 for Class of 2027
- 96% of Class of 2028 ranked in top 10% of high school class
- Cornell University's overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 7.5%
- The College of Engineering at Cornell had an acceptance rate of 4.8% for the Class of 2028
- Cornell's acceptance rate for Early Decision applicants to the Class of 2027 was 22.6%
- Cornell received 71,064 applications for Class of 2028
- Applications to College of Arts & Sciences rose 8% to 19,200 for Class of 2027
- Total first-year applications increased 5% from 67,846 to 71,064 for Class of 2028
- 52% of Class of 2028 admits identify as students of color
- Women comprise 52.4% of the Class of 2028 admitted students
- First-generation college students make up 20.7% of Class of 2028
- Cornell enrolled 3,700 first-year students for Class of 2028
- Yield rate for Class of 2028: 62.2%
- Early Decision yield: 72% for Class of 2027
Cornell admitted a highly accomplished Class of 2028 with a 7.5% overall rate and strong academic credentials.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Metrics19 stats
01
Middle 50% SAT for enrolled Class of 2028: 1480-1560
02
Average unweighted GPA of admits: 4.0 for Class of 2027
03
96% of Class of 2028 ranked in top 10% of high school class
04
ACT middle 50%: 33-35 for Engineering Class of 2028
05
75% of admits submitted SAT scores averaging 1520 for Class of 2027
06
Average weighted GPA: 4.2 for CALS Class of 2028
07
92% in top quartile of class for Arts & Sciences admits
08
SAT Math 75th percentile: 800 for Class of 2028
09
85% took AP/IB courses among Class of 2027
10
Average ACT: 34 for Dyson admits Class of 2028
11
98% top 25% of class for Engineering Class of 2027
12
SAT EBRW 25th percentile: 710 for Class of 2028
13
40% pursued STEM in high school among humanities admits
14
IB Diploma average score: 42 for international admits Class of 2027
15
88% honors/AP average for enrolled transfers
16
Math SAT average: 780 for CALS Class of 2028
17
Reading SAT 75th: 770 for Class of 2027
18
95% 4+ APs taken by admits
19
ACT Composite 25th: 32 for Hotel School Class of 2028
Interpretation
Academic Metrics Interpretation
Cornell's admissions data reveals a student body so academically formidable that "perfect" is merely the baseline, with an average unweighted 4.0 GPA underscoring that exceptional achievements in the most rigorous courses are now the standard expectation.
02 · Category
Acceptance Rates11 stats
01
Cornell University's overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 7.5%
02
The College of Engineering at Cornell had an acceptance rate of 4.8% for the Class of 2028
03
Cornell's acceptance rate for Early Decision applicants to the Class of 2027 was 22.6%
04
The acceptance rate for the SC Johnson College of Business was 6.4% for Class of 2028
05
Cornell's Regular Decision acceptance rate for Class of 2028 was approximately 5.8%
06
For the Class of 2026, Cornell's overall acceptance rate dropped to 7.26%
07
Architecture, Art, and Planning college acceptance rate was 10.2% for Class of 2027
08
Cornell's transfer acceptance rate averaged 17.5% over the past five years
09
Hotel Administration program acceptance rate was 22% for ED in Class of 2028
10
Cornell's international applicant acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 5.9%
11
Biological Sciences acceptance rate at 8.7% for Class of 2028
Interpretation
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
Getting into Cornell feels like playing a game where they keep changing the rules, but you can bet the house is always stacked in favor of the early and the hyper-specialized.
03 · Category
Applicant Numbers18 stats
01
Cornell received 71,064 applications for Class of 2028
02
Applications to College of Arts & Sciences rose 8% to 19,200 for Class of 2027
03
Total first-year applications increased 5% from 67,846 to 71,064 for Class of 2028
04
Engineering college saw 15,300 applications for Class of 2028
05
Early Decision applications totaled 7,926 for Class of 2028
06
CALS received 11,500 applications for Class of 2027
07
Dyson School applications hit 3,200 for Class of 2028
08
International applications comprised 15% of total for Class of 2026 at 10,000+
09
Transfer applications numbered 5,600 for fall 2023
10
College of Human Ecology applications: 2,800 for Class of 2028
11
First-generation applicants increased 20% to 4,500 for Class of 2028
12
Legacy applicants totaled 2,100 for Class of 2027
13
Women applicants: 38,000 for Class of 2028
14
Underrepresented minority applications: 12,000 for Class of 2027
15
AAP applications: 1,200 for Class of 2028
16
Nolan School applications doubled to 1,800 since 2020 for Class of 2028
17
Out-of-state applications: 55,000 for Class of 2027
18
Public high school applicants: 48,000 for Class of 2028
Interpretation
Applicant Numbers Interpretation
So, while 71,064 applications confirm Cornell's enduring appeal, the real story is in the details: a surge in first-gen students and a doubling for the Nolan School prove the Ivy League dream is actively being rewritten by a broader, more dynamic cast of characters.
More related reading
04 · Category
Demographic Statistics19 stats
01
52% of Class of 2028 admits identify as students of color
02
Women comprise 52.4% of the Class of 2028 admitted students
03
First-generation college students make up 20.7% of Class of 2028
04
24.3% of Class of 2028 are Pell Grant eligible
05
Underrepresented minorities: 28.5% of admits for Class of 2027
06
International students: 12% of Class of 2028 admits
07
Asian American admits: 25.1% for Class of 2028
08
Hispanic/Latino students: 14.2% of Class of 2027 enrolled
09
Black/African American admits: 8.9% for Class of 2028
10
15% of Class of 2026 are legacies
11
Rural origin students: 4.5% of Class of 2028
12
LGBTQ+ identification: 12% among Class of 2027 admits
13
Multi-racial students: 7.3% of enrolled Class of 2028
14
Native American admits: 1.2% for Class of 2027
15
22 states represented by 100+ admits in Class of 2028
16
New York residents: 32% of Class of 2027
17
Athletes: 5% of admits for Class of 2028
18
45 countries represented in Class of 2028 international cohort
19
White students: 47.6% of Class of 2028 admits
Interpretation
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
Cornell is weaving a class tapestry where over half the threads are students of color and women, deliberately stitching in significant portions of first-generation and Pell Grant recipients, while ensuring the final picture includes vibrant patches of international perspectives, LGBTQ+ identities, and rural voices, all to create a mosaic that is both diverse and distinctly Cornell.
05 · Category
Enrollment and Yield20 stats
01
Cornell enrolled 3,700 first-year students for Class of 2028
02
Yield rate for Class of 2028: 62.2%
03
Early Decision yield: 72% for Class of 2027
04
Total admits: 5,139 for Class of 2028
05
Engineering enrolled 900+ for Class of 2028
06
58% yield rate overall for Class of 2027
07
CALS freshman class: 700 students for 2028
08
Arts & Sciences enrolled 1,200 for Class of 2027
09
Transfer enrollment: 800 for fall 2023
10
Dyson enrolled 140 for Class of 2028
11
International enrollment yield: 45% for Class of 2028
12
Nolan School yield: 65% ED for Class of 2028
13
Hotel School enrolled 200+ for Class of 2027
14
AAP freshman class: 150 for Class of 2028
15
First-gen enrollment: 22% of Class of 2028
16
Waitlist yield: 1.2% for Class of 2027
17
Public school enrollees: 70% of Class of 2028
18
Out-of-state enrollment: 68% for Class of 2027
19
Female enrollment: 51% of freshmen Class of 2028
20
Underrepresented minorities enrolled: 25% for Class of 2028
Interpretation
Enrollment and Yield Interpretation
Cornell’s admissions figures reveal a finely tuned machine that can simultaneously boast a 72% Early Decision yield, a grim 1.2% waitlist chance, and a class where 70% come from public schools—proving it’s an Ivy League institution that expertly manages both its exclusivity and its accessibility.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Cornell Admission Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cornell-admission-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Cornell Admission Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cornell-admission-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Cornell Admission Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cornell-admission-statistics.
Sources & references
16 datasets cited across this report