Cornell Admission Requirements

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Cornell Admission Overview

Cornell admission requirements are extremely competitive, with one of the lowest admission rates in New York. Last year Cornell admitted 8.8% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1500-1570 / ACT 33-35. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Cornell requires the SAT or ACT for 2026-27.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admissions.cornell.edu/policies/standardized-testing-policy

Cornell Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

8.8%

Admission Standards

Elite

Applicant Competition

Extreme

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The Cornell acceptance rate is 8.8%. Last year, only 5,516 of 62,993 applicants were admitted. That is the 3rd lowest acceptance rate in New York and the 29th lowest in the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Cornell and can you get accepted?

Cornell is an extremely competitive school to get into, admitting fewer than one in ten applicants. You have a very low chance of acceptance even if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. Of those admitted, 64% enrolled. That suggests Cornell is a top choice for many students who are offered a place.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Cornell GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.9*

Typical High School Grades

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.9*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Cornell has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.9 GPA (A) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. An estimated 3.9 GPA does not by itself determine admission.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

*3.9 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

Cornell Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

Cornell University requires SAT or ACT scores from first-year undergraduate applicants. Applicants may self-report scores; recruited athletes must send official agency scores during the application. Enrolling students must verify self-reported SAT or ACT scores with official reports or risk revocation of admission. Transfer applicants are neither required nor expected to send SAT or ACT scores. Cornell superscores both tests and does not require the ACT science section.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admissions.cornell.edu/policies/standardized-testing-policy

Cornell SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1500-1570

Freshmen who sent SAT

40%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 730
Math 770
Composite 1500

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 770
Math 800
Composite 1570

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Cornell typically score around a 1540 SAT (middle 50% 1500–1570) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 99th percentile nationally. Cornell ranks #2 in the state of New York and #17 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1500 to 1570

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Matching last year's 1500–1570 range does not by itself determine admission.

SAT policy

You must send SAT or ACT for 2026-27. Confirm current rules on the school's site.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1540 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at Cornell University
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1570+	Above 75th	>16%
1540 to 1570	Avg +	10%-16%
1500 to 1540	Avg -	5%-10%
Below 1500	Below mid-50	<5%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Cornell ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

33-35

Freshmen reporting ACT

13%

25th Percentile Scores

English 35
Math 33
Composite 33

75th Percentile Scores

English 36
Math 35
Composite 35

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Cornell typically have around a 34 ACT (mid-50 33–35) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 99th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Cornell places #2 among colleges in New York and #25 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 33 to 35

1 9 18 27 36

Landing in last year's 33–35 band does not, on its own, decide admission.

ACT policy

ACT or SAT is required for 2026-27. Check the school's site for current rules.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 34.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at Cornell University
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
35+	Above 75th	>16%
34 to 35	Avg +	9%-16%
33 to 34	Avg -	5%-9%
Below 33	Below mid-50	<5%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

84% of Cornell University freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Cornell University students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	84.2%
Top 25% of class	96.5%
Top 50% of class	100%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and SAT or ACT compare with last year's enrolled class. This is not a personal probability of admission.

Open the Cornell chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

Cornell University admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	30,643	32,321	62,993
Accepted	2,987	2,529	5,516
Acceptance Rate	10%	8%	9%
Enrolled	1,877	1,648	3,525
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	63%	65%	64%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Cornell University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Cornell University application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Required to be considered for admission
High School GPA	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted