Cornell Acceptance Rate

Cornell University, an Ivy League institution located in Ithaca, New York, is known for its rigorous admissions process and competitive acceptance rates. For the Class of 2028, Cornell reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 7.5%, reflecting a highly selective admissions cycle. This selectivity is driven by a growing applicant pool, with over 68,000 students applying for a limited number of spots, as well as trends toward increased applications due to test-optional policies and broader outreach. Cornell publishes transparent admission statistics through its official website and the Common Data Set, providing detailed insights into enrollment and selectivity metrics.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 7.5% for the Class of 2028, with approximately 68,000 applicants and around 5,100 admitted students, marking a slight decrease from the previous year’s rate of 7.9%.
• Early Decision Rate: 17.6%, significantly higher than the regular decision rate, with about 9,000 early applicants and roughly 1,600 admitted, highlighting the advantage of applying early.
• International Student Rate: Estimated at 6.0%, based on historical trends, as specific data for the Class of 2028 is unavailable; international applicants face additional competition due to limited spots.

Over the past decade, Cornell’s acceptance rates have trended downward, reflecting increasing competitiveness as application numbers rise annually. The Early Decision program continues to offer a notable edge, with rates more than double those of regular decision, encouraging binding commitments from applicants. International admissions remain particularly competitive, often with lower acceptance rates due to high demand and quota constraints. Compared to peer Ivy League institutions like Harvard (3.2%) and Yale (4.5%), Cornell’s selectivity is slightly less intense but still places it among the most competitive universities globally. For the most accurate and updated statistics, prospective students are encouraged to visit Cornell’s official admissions page at admissions.cornell.edu or review the latest Common Data Set.