Cornell College

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA, USA

Cornell College is a liberal arts institution situated in Mount Vernon, Iowa, that was founded in 1853. Deemed “more selective,” Cornell is one of only 40 schools profiled by Loren Pope's book "Colleges That Change Lives" and also ranks as a top tier of national liberal arts colleges by US News & World Report. Utilizing a block schedule, Cornell students take only 1 course at a time, completing 8 per semester. Most students live on the Mount Vernon campus, which is one of only two colleges to be listed, in its entirety, on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus also features Iowa's largest ginkgo tree, an annual Culture Show, and Cornell T. Moose, a stuffed moose's head that's lived in Law Hall since 1925. 

Admissions

Key Admissions Stats

Institution Type
Private
  • Not for Profit
  • United Methodist
  • Coed

Need Aware

This school may consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Suburb or town
0
100
81%
Acceptance Rate

Admissions Requirements

SAT
SAT is not checked
No
ACT
ACT is not checked
No
Transcript
Transcript is checked
Yes

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Decision Acceptance is binding so student must attend college if accepted.November 1
Early Action Acceptance is not binding, but student will receive admissions decision earlier.November 1May 1
Fall Regular DecisionFebruary 1June 1
Spring Regular DecisionDecember 1 December 15

Rolling Admissions

The college has rolling admissions, which means applications are accepted any time throughout the year.

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
24%
Out-Of-State Students
78%
58%
Submitting ACT
28%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 26
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1241
0
1600

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Master's
Total Number of Students
1,055
Total Number of Undergrads
1,046
Academic Calendar

Semester

See your fit
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
78%
20-39 Students
21%
0
100
68%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
69%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
12:1
US National: 21:1

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Key Financial Stats

Average Net Price
$25,028
Calculate your net cost
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$49,158
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$49,158
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$10,872
Books and Supplies
$1200

Aid & Grants

0
100
86%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
23%
Average Aid Per Year
$33,265
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
23%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$4,686
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$31,082

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
63%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$8,160
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$22,500
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$258

Campus Life

Key Campus Stats

Student Gender
Male
Female
52%
48%
Student Organizations
36
Size of Town
Suburb or town
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups is checked
Yes
On Campus Women's Center
On Campus Women's Center is not checked
No

Housing

0
100
92%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
Yes

Athletics

Divisional Sports Nickname
Rams
School Colors
purple and white
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Midwest Conference

Campus Safety

24-HR security patrol
24-HR security patrol is checked
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Campus emergency phones is checked
Yes

After Graduation

Post Grad Stats

Top 5 Cities
Chicago
Cedar Rapids
Minneapolis
Denver
Des Moines
Employed
6 mos. after graduation
97%
Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$45,400

What Students Are Saying

Cornell is great! Everyone here is very friendly, upperclassmen are happy to help you. Plus all the staff are eager to assist you in anyway they can.
Maria from Albuquerque, NM
Cornell is a small community with excellent academic opportunities. They offer fairly good financial aid and are willing to accommodate to suit a student's needs. If you are looking for an exciting social scene however, Cornell is not the school for you.
Brandon from Gilbert, IA
One of the most beautiful schools out there. The school is an amazing place for anyone who wants a different, and even Hogwarts-esque experience. From the professors to the students, Cornell College is absolutely fantastic.
Kahn from Washington, DC
Cornell College is a small, liberal arts school that focuses not only on academics, but also on personal relationships. Cornell College offers a myriad of opportunities for students to get involved on campus, in addition to resources, such as internships and study abroad programs. Overall, Cornell College is an academically rigorous, socially accepting, relationship-driven school that strives to help all students achieve their goals.
Chandra
Cornell is located in a small town, living here will mean creating your own fun or searching for activities through clubs, athletics, or greek life. People here are different in different senses of the word; we have our share of the different colors of the rainbow. The teachers are really helpful and invested, just like the students are helpful and friendly.
Anonymous
Cornell College is a fantastic, small, friendly community. The One Course At A Time model truly allows me to focus my intellectual capacities on my subject in a unique manner. At Cornell, the professors emanate a majestic aura of knowledge, wisdom, love, and passion.
Justin from CENTENNIAL, CO
I really enjoy my time in class and the small campus has given me a chance to make a network of friends quickly. The courses are incredibly rigorous and intellectually stimulating, and most of my professors have been reasonable human beings who I can talk to if need be.
Yolanda from Portland, OR