Cornell College Admissions

Cornell College Admissions Overview:

Cornell College has an acceptance rate of 71%, making it generally open to interested students. Students accepted to the school generally have grades and test scores above average. To apply, interested students need to submit an application (from the school, with the Common Application, or with the free Cappex Application), scores from the ACT or SAT, a personal essay, high school transcripts, and teacher recommendations.

Admissions Data (2016):

• Cornell College Acceptance Rate: 71%
• GPA, SAT and ACT Graph for Cornell Admissions
• Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 475 / 655
  • SAT Math: 495 / 620
  • SAT Writing: - / -
    • What these SAT numbers mean
    • SAT score comparison for Iowa colleges
  • ACT Composite: 23 / 29
  • ACT English: 23 / 30
  • ACT Math: 23 / 28
  • ACT Writing: - / -
    • What these ACT numbers mean
    • ACT score comparison for Iowa colleges

Cornell College Description:

Cornell College (not to be confused with Cornell University) is a selective liberal arts college in the small and charming town of Mount Vernon, Iowa. The college has been coeducation since its founding in 1853, and its strong academics have earned it memebership in Phi Beta Kappa. Its attractive campus is on the National Register of Historic Places. One of Cornell College's distinctive features is its one-course-at-a-time curriculum. All students study a single course in intensive three-and-a-half week semesters. This model allows students and faculty to give each course 100% of their attention. In athletics, the Cornell College Rams compete in the NCAA Division III Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC). Popular sports include soccer, basketball, track and field, tennis, and football.

Enrollment (2016):

• Total Enrollment: 978 (all undergraduate)
• Gender Breakdown: 50% Male / 50% Female
• 100% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

• Tuition and Fees: $39,900
• Books: $1,164 (why so much?)
• Room and Board: $8,900
• Other Expenses: $4,047
• Total Cost: $54,011

Cornell Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100%
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 100%
  • Loans: 69%
• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $24,224
  • Loans: $9,143

Academic Programs:

• Most Popular Majors: Art, Biology, Biochemistry, Economics, English, Health and Physical Education, History, Political Science, Psychology

Graduation and Retention Rates:

• First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 78%
• Transfer-out Rate: 26%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 65%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 68%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

• Men's Sports: Baseball, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Wrestling, Basketball, Cross Country, Track and Field
• Women's Sports: Basketball, Track and Field, Cross Country, Soccer, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Tennis, Softball

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

If You Like Cornell College, You May Also Like These Schools:

• Duke University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Johns Hopkins University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Knox College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Yale University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Beloit College: Profile 
• Princeton University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Rice University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Harvard University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• University of Chicago: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Grinnell College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Cornell and the Common Application

Cornell College uses the Common Application. These articles can help guide you:

• Common Application essay tips and samples
• Short answer tips and samples
• Supplemental essay tips and samples