While the dream of joining Cornell's vibrant community burns bright for over 71,000 applicants each year, the stark reality is that gaining admission, with an overall acceptance rate of just 7.5%, requires more than just stellar grades—it demands a strategic understanding of the nuanced odds across its diverse colleges.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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 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's admission is increasingly competitive with single-digit acceptance rates.
Academic Metrics
1Middle 50% SAT for enrolled Class of 2028: 1480-1560
Verified2Average unweighted GPA of admits: 4.0 for Class of 2027
Verified396% of Class of 2028 ranked in top 10% of high school class
Verified4ACT middle 50%: 33-35 for Engineering Class of 2028
Directional575% of admits submitted SAT scores averaging 1520 for Class of 2027
Single source6Average weighted GPA: 4.2 for CALS Class of 2028
Verified792% in top quartile of class for Arts & Sciences admits
Verified8SAT Math 75th percentile: 800 for Class of 2028
Verified985% took AP/IB courses among Class of 2027
Directional10Average ACT: 34 for Dyson admits Class of 2028
Single source1198% top 25% of class for Engineering Class of 2027
Verified12SAT EBRW 25th percentile: 710 for Class of 2028
Verified1340% pursued STEM in high school among humanities admits
Verified14IB Diploma average score: 42 for international admits Class of 2027
Directional1588% honors/AP average for enrolled transfers
Single source16Math SAT average: 780 for CALS Class of 2028
Verified17Reading SAT 75th: 770 for Class of 2027
Verified1895% 4+ APs taken by admits
Verified19ACT Composite 25th: 32 for Hotel School Class of 2028
DirectionalAcademic 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.
Acceptance Rates
1Cornell University's overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 7.5%
Verified2The College of Engineering at Cornell had an acceptance rate of 4.8% for the Class of 2028
Verified3Cornell's acceptance rate for Early Decision applicants to the Class of 2027 was 22.6%
Verified4The acceptance rate for the SC Johnson College of Business was 6.4% for Class of 2028
Directional5Cornell's Regular Decision acceptance rate for Class of 2028 was approximately 5.8%
Single source6For the Class of 2026, Cornell's overall acceptance rate dropped to 7.26%
Verified7Architecture, Art, and Planning college acceptance rate was 10.2% for Class of 2027
Verified8Cornell's transfer acceptance rate averaged 17.5% over the past five years
Verified9Hotel Administration program acceptance rate was 22% for ED in Class of 2028
Directional10Cornell's international applicant acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 5.9%
Single source11Biological Sciences acceptance rate at 8.7% for Class of 2028
VerifiedAcceptance 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.
Applicant Numbers
1Cornell received 71,064 applications for Class of 2028
Verified2Applications to College of Arts & Sciences rose 8% to 19,200 for Class of 2027
Verified3Total first-year applications increased 5% from 67,846 to 71,064 for Class of 2028
Verified4Engineering college saw 15,300 applications for Class of 2028
Directional5Early Decision applications totaled 7,926 for Class of 2028
Single source6CALS received 11,500 applications for Class of 2027
Verified7Dyson School applications hit 3,200 for Class of 2028
Verified8International applications comprised 15% of total for Class of 2026 at 10,000+
Verified9Transfer applications numbered 5,600 for fall 2023
Directional10College of Human Ecology applications: 2,800 for Class of 2028
Single source11First-generation applicants increased 20% to 4,500 for Class of 2028
Verified12Legacy applicants totaled 2,100 for Class of 2027
Verified13Women applicants: 38,000 for Class of 2028
Verified14Underrepresented minority applications: 12,000 for Class of 2027
Directional15AAP applications: 1,200 for Class of 2028
Single source16Nolan School applications doubled to 1,800 since 2020 for Class of 2028
Verified17Out-of-state applications: 55,000 for Class of 2027
Verified18Public high school applicants: 48,000 for Class of 2028
VerifiedApplicant 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.
Demographic Statistics
152% of Class of 2028 admits identify as students of color
Verified2Women comprise 52.4% of the Class of 2028 admitted students
Verified3First-generation college students make up 20.7% of Class of 2028
Verified424.3% of Class of 2028 are Pell Grant eligible
Directional5Underrepresented minorities: 28.5% of admits for Class of 2027
Single source6International students: 12% of Class of 2028 admits
Verified7Asian American admits: 25.1% for Class of 2028
Verified8Hispanic/Latino students: 14.2% of Class of 2027 enrolled
Verified9Black/African American admits: 8.9% for Class of 2028
Directional1015% of Class of 2026 are legacies
Single source11Rural origin students: 4.5% of Class of 2028
Verified12LGBTQ+ identification: 12% among Class of 2027 admits
Verified13Multi-racial students: 7.3% of enrolled Class of 2028
Verified14Native American admits: 1.2% for Class of 2027
Directional1522 states represented by 100+ admits in Class of 2028
Single source16New York residents: 32% of Class of 2027
Verified17Athletes: 5% of admits for Class of 2028
Verified1845 countries represented in Class of 2028 international cohort
Verified19White students: 47.6% of Class of 2028 admits
DirectionalDemographic 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.
Enrollment and Yield
1Cornell enrolled 3,700 first-year students for Class of 2028
Verified2Yield rate for Class of 2028: 62.2%
Verified3Early Decision yield: 72% for Class of 2027
Verified4Total admits: 5,139 for Class of 2028
Directional5Engineering enrolled 900+ for Class of 2028
Single source658% yield rate overall for Class of 2027
Verified7CALS freshman class: 700 students for 2028
Verified8Arts & Sciences enrolled 1,200 for Class of 2027
Verified9Transfer enrollment: 800 for fall 2023
Directional10Dyson enrolled 140 for Class of 2028
Single source11International enrollment yield: 45% for Class of 2028
Verified12Nolan School yield: 65% ED for Class of 2028
Verified13Hotel School enrolled 200+ for Class of 2027
Verified14AAP freshman class: 150 for Class of 2028
Directional15First-gen enrollment: 22% of Class of 2028
Single source16Waitlist yield: 1.2% for Class of 2027
Verified17Public school enrollees: 70% of Class of 2028
Verified18Out-of-state enrollment: 68% for Class of 2027
Verified19Female enrollment: 51% of freshmen Class of 2028
Directional20Underrepresented minorities enrolled: 25% for Class of 2028
Single sourceEnrollment 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.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NEWSnews.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 2COLLEGETRANSITIONScollegetransitions.comVisit source
- Reference 3ADMISSIONSadmissions.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 4BUSINESSbusiness.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 5CRIMSONEDUCATIONcrimsoneducation.orgVisit source
- Reference 6USNEWSusnews.comVisit source
- Reference 7AAPaap.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 8SHAsha.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 9IRPirp.dpb.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 10CALScals.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 11ASas.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 12IVYCOACHivycoach.comVisit source
- Reference 13ENGINEERINGengineering.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 14HUMANhuman.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 15PRINCETONREVIEWprincetonreview.comVisit source
- Reference 16NICHEniche.comVisit source