Cornell College

Gaining admission to Cornell College is relatively straightforward, as the institution accepts a substantial majority of its applicant pool. In the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, the college was ranked 128, having dropped from a rank of 68 in 2020. Admission standards are fairly open; for 2025, the college posted an overall acceptance rate of 79.9%, which was higher than 83% of peer private liberal arts colleges. This high admit rate indicates that most candidates who apply receive an offer of admission. At the same time, the draw among accepted applicants is comparatively low. The college recorded a yield rate of 14.3% in 2025, demonstrating that only a small share of admitted candidates ultimately enroll. For prospective applicants, these patterns mean that securing an offer of admission is very accessible, though the institution must compete vigorously with other liberal arts colleges to persuade admitted students to attend.

Applicants preparing a profile for Cornell College will find that enrolled students generally present solid academic foundations, though standardized testing is provided by only a modest fraction of entrants. In 2025, the median SAT score among matriculating students was 1200, a level higher than 19% of peer private liberal arts colleges. For those reporting the ACT, the middle composite score range spanned from 23 to 30. Test submission has dropped significantly in recent cycles, with only a small minority of students opting to submit SAT or ACT results. In terms of high school performance, admitted candidates consistently demonstrate steady secondary school achievements. During the 2023-2024 academic year, approximately one-fifth of incoming first-year students recorded a perfect high school GPA, and a substantial majority maintained grade averages comfortably above the national norm. For prospective applicants, achieving standardized test marks within these middle bands alongside strong high school course performance creates a competitive foundation for consideration.

Undergraduate degree conferrals at Cornell College show moderate dispersion across the sciences, health fields, and practical liberal arts. In 2025, the college awarded 266 bachelor's degrees, with no master's or doctoral degrees granted. The curriculum exhibits a moderate degree of academic concentration, as the top three undergraduate programs accounted for 28.2% of all bachelor's graduates. The most popular program was Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, followed by Exercise Science and Kinesiology, as well as General Engineering. None of the college's academic programs held nationally published top major rankings, indicating that popularity on campus rather than external standings defines student distribution. International students made up only a small fraction of degree earners, appearing primarily within biochemistry. Early career compensation differs noticeably depending on the area of study. Based on 2023 earnings data measured one year after graduation, alumni who completed General Engineering reported the highest median pay at $69,256, outearning graduates from education, kinesiology, and the natural sciences.

Cornell College enrolled a total of 1,094 students in 2025, maintaining an undergraduate-focused student body where domestic White students represent the largest demographic group. In the entering class of 288 freshmen, diversity remains relatively limited, with racial and international minorities forming modest shares. Specifically, Asian students and international students each number 11, with each group accounting for 3.8% of first-year undergraduates. Across continuing undergraduates, White students form the clear majority, while Asian and international learners each constitute roughly three percent of enrollment. For families and prospective applicants considering the college, these demographic patterns indicate that students from abroad or from Asian backgrounds will encounter a small peer group on campus. Choosing Cornell College therefore means preparing for an educational experience centered within an intimate, predominantly domestic student body.

Cornell College features a strictly traditional age distribution that shapes a residential, peer-centered campus community. In 2025, among 1,082 undergraduates, the two youngest age brackets dominated enrollment: students aged eighteen to nineteen made up 46.4% of the student body, while those aged twenty to twenty-one accounted for 45.1%. Older undergraduate cohorts and non-traditional adult learners are exceptionally rare on campus. At the post-baccalaureate level, the college enrolled only two graduate students, both beyond thirty-five years of age. Because the vast majority of undergraduates arrive immediately after secondary school and progress through coursework during their typical collegiate years, daily campus life, residence hall culture, and extracurricular programming remain focused entirely on the developmental and social needs of young adults.

International student enrollment at Cornell College represents a relatively small component of the student body and is centered exclusively at the undergraduate level. In 2025, the college enrolled 36 international undergraduate students, accounting for 3.3% of the total undergraduate population. This enrollment share was higher than 33% of peer private liberal arts colleges, reflecting a lower proportion than peer medians. The undergraduate international share has decreased from earlier levels that reached a peak in 2020, while the graduate division recorded zero international students. Among degree earners, international presence remains limited across academic disciplines. At the bachelor's level in 2025, international scholars were concentrated primarily in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where international students comprised 6.5% of graduates. Other prominent undergraduate majors, including exercise science, engineering, and computer science, had no international degree recipients that year. For international applicants, these patterns indicate a small international community where scholars often navigate degree programs as part of a modest peer cohort.

Applicants exploring Cornell College can evaluate several alternative higher education institutions within driving distance across Iowa and neighboring Illinois. For students looking at major public research universities, University of Iowa sits just 19 kilometers away and holds a rank of 100 on the 2027 National University list, while Iowa State University is located 115 kilometers away with a rank of 116. Those comparing liberal arts options will find Augustana College 54 kilometers away in Illinois, ranked 91 on the 2027 Liberal Arts College list. Another prominent nearby option is Grinnell College, located 68 kilometers from campus and ranked 16 among liberal arts colleges. These institutions provide a variety of public and private environments across eastern Iowa and the surrounding region.

Campus safety records at Cornell College demonstrate an improving trajectory, with safety concerns primarily related to substance policy infractions. In 2025, the college's crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 10.1, down from earlier historical rates. Between 2023 and 2025, the vast majority of campus incidents involved disciplinary actions rather than violent crimes. Over this three-year period, the largest category totals were 41 disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations and 38 disciplinary referrals for drug law violations. More serious interpersonal offenses occurred less frequently during the same span, including single-digit reports of rape, fondling, and stalking. While the occurrence of personal safety violations requires ongoing diligence, the predominance of alcohol and drug referrals indicates that institutional interventions mostly address residence hall rule enforcement. Prospective students and families can view the campus as generally stable, with administrative attention concentrated on managing student conduct and substance compliance.