Studying at Cornell University
Explore undergraduate and graduate study at Cornell: choosing a school, preparing your application and planning your budget.
Choosing where to apply
Cornell is an Ivy League university in Ithaca, New York. For undergraduate admission, your choice of college or school shapes the requirements you need to meet and the academic interests you explain in your application.
Compare the curriculum, prerequisites and learning opportunities of your intended programme before choosing. A university-wide reputation or an overall admission rate cannot tell you whether a particular course is the right fit.
Eight undergraduate admitting colleges and schools
- Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Architecture, Art, and Planning
- Arts and Sciences
- David A. Duffield College of Engineering
- Human Ecology
- Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
- SC Johnson College of Business
- Industrial and Labor Relations
SC Johnson includes the Dyson and Nolan undergraduate schools. Bowers Computing and Information Science offers programmes across Cornell but is not a separate admitting college. Explore Cornell’s academic options.
Undergraduate application
Apply to one Cornell college or school through the Common Application. Prepare your school records, recommendations and the written responses required by your chosen school.
SAT or ACT
Applicants for first-year entry from fall 2026 onward must submit SAT or ACT scores. Transfer applicants follow a different policy. Read the current testing requirements.
International applicants must also meet Cornell’s English-language requirements. Review the accepted evidence and exemptions before booking a test.
Application dates
- Early Decision: November 1. This is a binding application plan.
- Regular Decision: January 2.
Check the calendar for your entry cycle, including supporting documents, programme supplements and financial-aid deadlines. The deadlines for different materials may not be identical.
Tuition and living costs
Your budget should cover tuition, housing, meals, books and personal expenses, with travel and health insurance considered as appropriate. Costs depend on the academic year and student category.
Use the university’s published figures for your situation instead of an undated estimate. Exchange-rate movements can also change the cost in your home currency.
Financial aid for international applicants
International undergraduate admission is need-aware: requesting financial aid can be a factor in the admission decision.
If you expect to need aid during your undergraduate studies, apply for it when you apply for admission, following the CSS Profile instructions and the published deadlines. Aid depends on Cornell’s assessment of demonstrated financial need; it is not an automatic award for every applicant.
Master’s and doctoral programmes
Graduate admission requirements depend on the degree and field. Check the relevant programme for academic prerequisites, application deadlines, recommendations, statements, English proficiency and any GRE or GMAT policy.
Do not assume that one GPA threshold or one tuition rate applies to every Cornell graduate programme. Graduate School tuition rates distinguish research and professional degrees.
Graduate funding
Doctoral funding can combine fellowships with research or teaching assistantships. Funding for research master’s and professional degrees is limited and varies by programme.
Read your funding offer carefully: check what it covers, its duration and any conditions attached to it.
Prepare a clear, personal application
Start by matching your interests and academic preparation to the school you want to join. Allow time to request documents, prepare any required tests and write responses that reflect your own experiences.
Your Dream School can help you organise these steps and build a coherent application plan.
Discuss your study plansQuestions fréquentes sur l'université de Cornell
Quel est le coût d'une année à Cornell ?
Le coût total (scolarité, logement, frais) avoisine 90 000 $ par an. Cornell propose une aide financière basée sur les besoins, plus limitée pour les étudiants internationaux.
Quel est le classement de Cornell ?
Membre de l'Ivy League, Cornell figure parmi les meilleures universités au monde (autour du top 15-20 du QS World University Rankings) et parmi les premières aux États-Unis.
Quel est le taux d'acceptation à Cornell ?
Cornell est très sélective, avec un taux d'acceptation d'environ 7 %.
Comment candidater à Cornell ?
La candidature se fait via la Common App, avec des essays, des lettres de recommandation, le SAT ou l'ACT et un test d'anglais (TOEFL/IELTS) pour les non-anglophones.