Cornell University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Cornell's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
Cornell acceptance rate by year
6,077 of 72,523 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 8.8% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 72,523 | 6,077 | 8.4% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 62,993 | 5,516 | 8.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 65,635 | 5,358 | 8.2% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 69,195 | 5,168 | 7.5% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 67,380 | 5,852 | 8.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 51,500 | 5,514 | 10.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 49,114 | 5,330 | 10.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 51,324 | 5,448 | 10.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 47,039 | 5,962 | 12.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 44,965 | 6,337 | 14.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 41,900 | 6,315 | 15.1% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
Cornell deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App. Checked October 24, 2026 on Cornell's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early decision Apply by Decisions Mid-December
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions Late March
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at Cornell
Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant. Early decision is binding: apply only if you would enroll.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at Cornell
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
What counts
What Cornell weighs
From section C7 of Cornell's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
Important
- Class rank
- GPA
Considered
- Test scores
- Interview
- First-generation status
- Alumni relation
- Where you live
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not considered
- Religious affiliation
- Demonstrated interest
Waitlist
Cornell waitlist
9,720 students were offered a place on the waitlist for Fall 2025, 6,598 accepted it, and 254 were admitted from it (3.8% of those who stayed on).
Cost
What Cornell costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Cornell's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to Cornell's 8.4%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about Cornell admissions
What is Cornell's acceptance rate?
Cornell admitted 6,077 of 72,523 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 8.4%. That is down from 8.8% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is Cornell test-optional for 2026–27?
No. Cornell requires the SAT or ACT from first-year applicants for 2026–27.
When are Cornell's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early decision: November 1, 2026; Regular decision: January 2, 2027. Check Cornell's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1490–1550 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 43% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1550 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Does applying early decision help at Cornell?
For Fall 2025, Cornell admitted 18.8% of 10,057 early decision applicants, compared with 8.4% overall. Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- Cornell first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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