Cornell College

6/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Mount Vernon, IA
0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

1,094

Location Mount Vernon, Iowa
Website cornellcollege.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Distant Town
Religious Affiliation United Methodist

Best Colleges Rank

#483

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad

Cornell College occupies a hilltop campus in Mount Vernon, Iowa, located 20 miles east of Cedar Rapids and four hours west of Chicago. The college's 129-acre campus features historic buildings constructed from local limestone, with most structures centered around a pedestrian mall designated as a National Historic District. Founded in 1853 by Methodist settlers, Cornell operates on a distinctive "One Course at a Time" block plan, where students take a single subject intensively for three-and-a-half weeks. While offering a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum, the college maintains strong programs in the sciences, economics and business, and theater. Students are required to live on campus for their first three years, housed primarily in traditional residence halls and suite-style buildings, with some restored 19th-century homes serving as themed housing options.

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Ratings

Cornell College is rated within the top 46% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10.

Overall Rating

6 out of 10
Academics

8 out of 10
Resources

7 out of 10
Outcomes

5 out of 10
Value

8 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Cornell College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Challenging

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1120/1285
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 23/30
GPA 3.53

Acceptance Rate

79.9%

Applications Due -
Enrollment Rate 14.3%
Application Fee $0

Applicant Competition Very Low

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$52,660

Costs for Cornell College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$52,660
Books and Supplies		$1,320
Other Fees		$690
Room and Board		$11,850
Budget for Other Expenses		$3,220
Total One Year Cost		$69,740

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$45,400 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

70% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Cornell College are Social Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts, and Biology. 16% of students major in Social Sciences, 12% in Visual and Performing Arts, and 11% in Biology.