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Colleges / Cornell College

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate79%
Acceptance Rate79%

About Cornell College

Cornell College, a selective liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, attracts a colorful community of diverse, empathetic neighbors—students, faculty, staff, and alumni—who care about each other.

Cornell’s block plan is one reason it is included in “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges.” Professors, and their students who come from 45 states and 13 countries, focus on one class per 18-day block before their next course starts. It’s the innovative—some might say ingenious—foundation of every Cornellian’s education. Flexible, experiential. Cornell has been living, learning, and teaching on the block plan, One Course At A Time, since 1978 when it left the traditional semester plan behind.

Everything from its curriculum to its facilities is built to maximize the benefits of the block plan. Cornell’s block offers flexible and experiential learning unlike—and superior to—semester plans. Research, internships, service opportunities, and block-long courses that take the students and professors off-campus and even out of the country are made possible due to the block’s flexibility. These experiential learning opportunities are referred to as Ingenuity in Action—a component at the center of Cornell’s core curriculum and to each student’s journey.

Cornell College is a private college in the town of Mount Vernon, Iowa. Cornell College was founded in 1853. The college enrolls around 1,074 students a year, including 1,060 undergraduate students.

Cornell College Acceptance Rate

Cornell College admitted 79% of all applicants in 2022. In 2022, 3,057 students applied to Cornell College and 2,425 were admitted.

Cornell College Admissions Facts At-A-Glance
Overall Acceptance Rate 79%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate 88%
Average GPA 3.6
Test Optional Yes
Applicants Submitting ACT scores 88%
Applicants Submitting SAT scores 23.6%

Choose one of the options below to learn more about Cornell College:

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Cornell College Community Forums

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Cornell College Campus Tours

Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, near Iowa City and Iowa.

If you are interested in seeing Cornell College for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Highway 30 to Mount Vernon, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Cedar Rapids.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Cornell College and Mount Vernon are like without leaving home.

College Info

600 First Street South West Mount Vernon, IA 52314-1098

Campus Setting: Small Town

Cornell College Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Continuous processing

Transfer Applications are Due

Continuous processing

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Cornell College is Continuous processing.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Cornell College is Continuous processing.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

Cornell College is a member of the Coalition for College.

More than an application, the Coalition provides free tools and resources to help students through the college admissions process, beginning as early as 9th grade.

Learn More

Cornell College SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1210 - 1320

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Math SAT Range

570 - 690

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Reading SAT Range

600 - 690

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1320 and Above

Good

1210 to 1320

Avg

1210 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for Cornell College students is 1259. Applicants with SAT scores of 1320 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Cornell College, while applicants with SAT scores between 1210 to 1320 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1210 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Cornell College.

Cornell College Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$61,832

In State

$61,832

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$49,970
$49,970
Fees
$664
$664
Housing
$11,198
$11,198
Books
Unknown
Unknown

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Student Life

Wondering what life at Cornell College is like? There are approximately 1,074 students enrolled at Cornell College, including 1,060 undergraduate students and 14 graduate students. 95% percent of students attend school full-time, 22% percent are from IA and 78% percent of students are from other states.

95%

Full Time

Unknown

Part Time

22%

In State

78%

Out-of-State

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

1,074

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

79%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$50,634

Out-of-State

$50,634

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Continuous processing
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