College Admissions Data
Cornell University Admissions Data
In 2025-26, Cornell reported 72,523 first-year applicants and 6,077 admitted students, an acceptance rate of 8.4%. See where you stand, how the rate has changed since 2005-06, and unlock the full year-by-year history free.
Where do I stand?
Compares with Cornell's latest reported figures: SAT 1490 to 1550 (2025-26), ACT 33 to 35 (2025-26). It shows where you fall. It does not estimate your chances.
Your result
Enter a score, a GPA, or both.
Middle 50% means the range from the 25th to the 75th percentile of enrolled first-year students who submitted that test.
The latest year
- Applicants
- 72,523CDS 2025-26
- Admitted
- 6,077CDS 2025-26
- Acceptance rate
- 8.4%CDS 2025-26
- Early decision vs overall
- 11.6% vs 8.4%CDS 2024-25
- SAT middle 50%
- 1490–1550; 43% submittedCDS 2025-26
- ACT middle 50%
- 33–35; 13% submittedCDS 2025-26
More on Cornell: campus context, review criteria and admissions contacts
Cornell over 21 years
Down from 27% in 2005-06 to 8% in 2025-26. Applications grew from 24,452 to 72,523 over the same years, about 3 times as many.
| CDS year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 24,452 | 6,621 | 27.1% |
| 2006-07 | 28,098 | 6,935 | 24.7% |
| 2007-08 | 30,383 | 6,503 | 21.4% |
| 2008-09 | 33,073 | 6,834 | 20.7% |
| 2009-10 | 34,371 | 6,565 | 19.1% |
| 2010-11 | 36,338 | 6,673 | 18.4% |
| 2011-12 | 36,387 | 6,538 | 18.0% |
| 2012-13 | 37,808 | 6,259 | 16.6% |
| 2013-14 | 39,999 | 6,222 | 15.6% |
| 2014-15 | 43,037 | 6,105 | 14.2% |
| 2015-16 | 41,900 | 6,315 | 15.1% |
| 2016-17 | 44,965 | 6,337 | 14.1% |
| 2017-18 | 47,039 | 5,962 | 12.7% |
| 2018-19 | 51,324 | 5,448 | 10.6% |
| 2019-20 | 49,114 | 5,330 | 10.9% |
| 2020-21 | 51,500 | 5,514 | 10.7% |
| 2021-22 | 67,380 | 5,852 | 8.7% |
| 2022-23 | 71,164 | 5,168 | 7.3% |
| 2023-24 | 67,846 | 5,358 | 7.9% |
| 2024-25 | 65,612 | 5,516 | 8.4% |
| 2025-26 | 72,523 | 6,077 | 8.4% |
Unlock the full 21-year history (free)
One email unlocks the full year-by-year history for every college here, for 30 days: acceptance rate, early decision, SAT and ACT ranges, yield and GPA where each college reports them, with each year linked to the college's own Common Data Set file.
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- Cornell University Common Data Set 2025-26
- Cornell University Common Data Set 2024-25
- Cornell University Common Data Set 2023-24
Links to every year's file are in the full history above.
Common Questions
What is Cornell's acceptance rate?
In 2025-26, Cornell reported 72,523 first-year applicants and 6,077 admitted students, an acceptance rate of 8.4%. Down from 27% in 2005-06 to 8% in 2025-26.
What is the Common Data Set?
The Common Data Set is a standard survey that colleges fill out and publish each year. Section C covers first-year admission: applicants and admits (C1), test scores (C9), GPA (C11 and C12) and early decision (C21).
Does being within the middle 50% mean I will get in?
No. The ranges describe students who enrolled, and admission decisions weigh much more than scores and grades. The checker shows where your numbers fall. It does not predict a decision.
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