Cornell University Acceptance Rate
Ithaca, New York · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 65,635
- Admitted
- 5,358
- Yield
- 66%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Cornell University's acceptance rate has fallen from 14.2% in 2014–15 to 8.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 43,037 to 65,635 (+53%) over that period.
Its 8.2% rate makes Cornell University more selective than about 98% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 119 tracked New York schools, it is more selective than about 97%.
Cornell University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 66% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 43,037 | 6,105 | 14.2% | 3,225 |
| 2015–16 | 41,900 | 6,315 | 15.1% | 3,180 |
| 2016–17 | 44,965 | 6,337 | 14.1% | 3,316 |
| 2017–18 | 47,039 | 5,962 | 12.7% | 3,349 |
| 2018–19 | 51,324 | 5,448 | 10.6% | 3,295 |
| 2019–20 | 49,114 | 5,330 | 10.9% | 3,189 |
| 2020–21 | 51,500 | 5,514 | 10.7% | 3,249 |
| 2021–22 | 67,380 | 5,852 | 8.7% | 3,718 |
| 2022–23 | 69,195 | 5,168 | 7.5% | 3,491 |
| 2023–24 | 65,635 | 5,358 | 8.2% | 3,537 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 32,917 | 2,899 | 8.8% |
| Men | 32,718 | 2,459 | 7.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 720–770 | 37% |
| SAT Math | 760–790 | |
| ACT Composite | 33–35 | 12% |
How Cornell University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Cornell University's acceptance rate?
Cornell University's acceptance rate is 8.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (5,358 admitted of 65,635 applicants).
Is Cornell University test optional?
Cornell University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Cornell University?
Cornell University received 65,635 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 5,358.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell University?
Admitted students at Cornell University typically scored 720–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 760–790 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Cornell University getting harder to get into?
Cornell University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 14.2% in 2014–15 to 8.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.cornell.edu/.