CostByCollegeAdmissions
Cornell acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Cornell University is 8.2% for fall 2023. Out of 65,635 applicants, 5,358 were admitted and 3,537 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 65,635 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 5,358 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 8.2% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 3,537 |
How this rate compares
Against the New York pilot school average of 28.6%, the rate at Cornell University is 20.4 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at Cornell University is 44.8 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 16 schools in New York and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for Cornell University.
Similar schools to compare
- New York University, New York, New York. Total cost $87,752 for one year.
- Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York. Total cost $87,470 for one year.
- Colgate University, Hamilton, New York. Total cost $87,070 for one year.
- Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, New York. Total cost $89,587 for one year.
- Barnard College, New York, New York. Total cost $89,808 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Cornell?
The acceptance rate at Cornell University is 8.2% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 5,358, divided by the number who applied, 65,635.
How many students apply to Cornell each year?
In fall 2023, 65,635 students applied to Cornell University, 5,358 were admitted, and 3,537 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is Cornell compared with other schools in New York?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in New York that publish a rate is 28.6%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at Cornell University is 8.2%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does Cornell cost?
The total cost for one year at Cornell University is $88,140 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell?
The graduation rate at Cornell University is 95%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.