Cornell University Undergraduate Class Size: A Closer Look
Cornell University, a private Ivy League research university founded in 1865, is located in Ithaca, New York. The university is known for its rigorous academic environment and diverse student body. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,128 (fall 2024) and a campus size of 745 acres. A key aspect of the undergraduate experience at Cornell is the opportunity for students to engage closely with faculty, which is facilitated by a commitment to maintaining relatively small class sizes. This article delves into the statistics surrounding undergraduate class sizes at Cornell, exploring the benefits and implications for students.
Class Size Statistics: Getting to Know Your Professors
One of the hallmarks of a Cornell education is the accessibility of its faculty. Cornell undergraduates get to know their professors during their time on campus. This close interaction is supported by the university's commitment to keeping class sizes manageable. In fact, 67% of Cornell classes have fewer than 30 students; 80% have fewer than 50, and only 19% of classes have 50 or more students enrolled. This ensures that students have ample opportunity to engage with professors, ask questions, and receive personalized attention. The student-faculty ratio at Cornell University is 9:1.
First-Year Writing Seminars: A Foundation for Success
Recognizing the importance of strong writing skills, Cornell requires all first-year students to take two writing seminars from Cornell's nationally recognized first-year writing program. These classes are capped at 17 students, fostering an intimate and supportive learning environment where students can develop their writing abilities with individualized feedback from instructors.
Faculty Involvement Beyond the Classroom
Cornell's faculty members extend their involvement beyond the classroom, playing a crucial role in students' academic and personal development. They serve as academic advisors, providing guidance on course selection, career paths, and other academic matters. Faculty also supervise independent studies and research projects, offering students the chance to delve deeper into topics of interest and contribute to the university's research mission. Furthermore, they act as advisors to the more than 1,000 student groups on campus, fostering a vibrant and engaging extracurricular environment.
Student Body Size: Advantages and Considerations
Cornell University, being one of the largest Ivy League schools, has a pretty substantial student body. As of the latest data, Cornell has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 15,000 students. This doesn't include graduate students-if you consider them as well, the total enrollment is just over 23,000.
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The size of the student body could be a pro or con depending on your personal preferences. A larger student body often means more diversity of thought, a wider array of academic and extracurricular opportunities, and generally more resources. On the other hand, it might also mean larger class sizes, especially in lower-level courses, and perhaps a less personalized experience than you might get at a smaller school.
That said, Cornell is known for fostering a strong sense of community despite its size, and many people find that the abundance of opportunities makes the larger environment exciting and rewarding.
Cornell University Rankings and Recognition
Cornell University consistently ranks among the top universities in the United States. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Cornell University is ranked No. #12 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #2 in Best Colleges for Veterans. This recognition reflects the university's commitment to academic excellence, research, and student success.
Tuition, Financial Aid, and Graduation Rates
The school's tuition and fees are $72,270. Forty-eight percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $29,651. The four-year graduation rate is 87%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $87,830.
A Land-Grant Institution with a Global Reach
Cornell University, founded in 1865, is both a land-grant institution for the state of New York and a private, comprehensive research university in the Ivy League. Founded to be an institution where any person can find instruction in any study, Cornell encourages students to take intellectual risks, explore the unfamiliar, and follow unconventional ideas.
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In addition to well-known graduate and professional programs, Cornell has seven undergraduate colleges. Each college defines its own academic programs, admits its own students, and provides its own faculty and advising.
Cornell contributes to nuclear and high-energy physics, space exploration, automotive safety, and computing technology. Cornell has also advanced parallel compu. Architectural styles range from ornate Collegiate Gothic, Victorian, and Neoclassical buildings to more spare international and modernist structures.
Cornell University Admissions
Cornell University received 65,635 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 5.14% annual growth. Out of those 65,635 applicants, 5,358 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 8.16% acceptance rate. There were 26,264 students enrolled at Cornell University in 2023. 37% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications. Cornell University has an overall enrollment yield of 66%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.
In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Cornell University was 8.16% (5,358 admissions from 65,635 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 7.47%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 5.14%, while admissions grew by 3.68%.
Diversity and Inclusion
The university attracts a diverse student body. In 2022, the proportion of admitted students who self-identify as underrepresented minorities increased to 34.2%, up from 33.7% in 2021, and 59.3% self-identify as students of color, up from 52.5% in 2017 and 57.2% in 2020.
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The enrolled student population at Cornell University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 28.9% White, 18.9% Asian, 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 5.94% Black or African American, 4.2% Two or More Races, 0.202% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.11% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. Students enrolled at Cornell University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (16.6%), followed by White Male (15.3%) and Asian Female (13.9%).
Academic Programs and Colleges
Cornell's colleges and schools offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including seven undergraduate colleges and seven schools offering graduate and professional programs. All academic departments at Cornell are affiliated with at least one college. Several inter-school academic departments offer courses in more than one college. Students pursuing graduate degrees in these schools are enrolled in Cornell University Graduate School. Cornell's four statutory colleges include the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Human Ecology, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and College of Veterinary Medicine. Cornell's nine privately endowed, non-statutory colleges include the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, College of Engineering, and Nolan School of Hotel Administration, each of which operate independently of state funding and oversight, which grants them greater autonomy in determining their academic programs, admissions, and advising. As of 2023, among Cornell's 15,182 undergraduate students, 4,602 (30.3%) are affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences, which is the largest college by enrollment, followed by 3,203 (21.1%) in Engineering, and 3,101 (20.4%) in Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Graduation and Retention Rates
In 2023, 88% of students graduating from Cornell University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 94% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 95% within 200%. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Cornell University was 98%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Cornell University had a retention rate higher than its peers.
Financial Aspects
In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Cornell University is $65,204, which is $34,201 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004). After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,455. In 2023, 50% of undergraduate students attending Cornell University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 24% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.
Cornell University has an endowment valued at nearly $9.55B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
Campus and Facilities
Cornell University's main campus is located in Ithaca, New York, on East Hill, offering views of the city and Cayuga Lake. The Ithaca campus is characterized by an irregular layout and a mix of architectural styles that developed over time through successive master plans. Several Cornell University buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Andrew Dickson White House, Bailey Hall, Caldwell Hall, the Computing and Communications Center, Morrill Hall, Rice Hall, Fernow Hall, Wing Hall, Llenroc, and Deke House.
The campus is bordered by two gorges, Fall Creek Gorge and Cascadilla Gorge. Cornell University has implemented several green initiatives designed to promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact, including a gas-fired combined heat and power facility, an on-campus hydroelectric plant, and a lake source cooling system.
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