Founded in 1853, Cornell College. is a Private college. Located in Iowa, which is a city setting in Iowa, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 978 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.
The Cornell College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 92 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Cornell College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
70%
Application Deadline
1-Nov
Application Fee
30
SAT Range
970-1275
ACT Range
23-29
Admissions at are considered Selective, with ,18% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 15 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
91% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 66% were in the top quarter, and 38% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Cornell College.
0%
“We”re apathetic”
33%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
17%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
17%
“Sometimes, but not often”
58%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
25%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
8%
“I only go out in groups”
17%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
75%
“I feel extremely safe”
8%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
67%
“We bought the gear”
25%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
8%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
58%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
33%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
25%
“They keep regular office hours”
75%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
25%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
67%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
8%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
8%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
17%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
50%
“We only party on weekends”
25%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
8%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
75%
“There might be people who do”
8%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
8%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
33%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
17%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
17%
“Sometimes, but not often”
58%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
25%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
8%
“I only go out in groups”
17%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
75%
“I feel extremely safe”
8%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
67%
“We bought the gear”
25%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
8%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
58%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
33%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
25%
“They keep regular office hours”
75%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
25%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
67%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
8%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
42 Students rated on-campus housing 3.8 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
33 Students rated off-campus housing 2.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
43 Students rated campus food 2.5 stars. 12 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
43 Students rated campus facilities 3.9 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
43 Students rated class size 4.8 stars. 88 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
42 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
43 Students rated local services 3.7 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
43 Students rated academics 4.1 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.
Cornell College REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Cornell College?
17 Students rated Cornell College
Riley
It is a smaller school with an amazing campus life and a beautiful view. Although I only went for a visit I fell in love with it immediately. I cannot wait to call this place my home. The facilities are older but remodeled and updated to stay with current times. Overall I love this school.
Jessie
I think Cornell stands out more than other colleges. It was the first college I visited and it was so interesting that I ended my college search there. I got to meet with one of the teachers, who assured me that with the class size that they make sure that everyone understands class material. All they had to do was draw me in with the One Class at a Time Program and I was set, but it also helped that the campus reminded me a lot of my home and I can't wait for Cornell to be my home for the next 4 years.
Connor
Cornell College is a school that is very hard to come by in the United States. As one of only two schools in the entire country that practice the One Course at a Time Schedule, it provides a unique experience to all the students that attend. The small class size, engaging courses, and active professors all work to make learning intense and enjoyable. The beautiful campus in the small town of Mt. Vernon, IA offers an environment you just love to walk around in, and the facilities on campus only add to that feeling. With buildings like the Thomas Commons, the Cole Library, and the new Russel Science Center, living on campus is a very pleasant experience. I love Cornell, and Cornell loves its students.
Renee
From a prospective student standpoint, I loved Cornell. The campus is a cute small campus with a strong sense of community. The classes are small. The "one course at a time" class plan makes learning more personal and focused. Plus teachers are with you for your one class from 8-3, with a lunch break, for about 3 weeks. That means they get a chance to get to know you and are able to work with you more if you are struggling. All of this made me so excited that I plan to attend Cornell in the fall.. But none of those factors are my favorite. My favorite factors are the dorms and the food. The dorms are cute and and close to classes. The food is amazing! At the cafeteria, they give a diverse range of food and some awesome desserts!!
Jakob
I think that Cornell College is an amazing school. They do things differently than other schools and it works amazingly. There are always people available to talk with. With the smaller class sizes, you get to really know your professors. Getting to know your professors on a personal level i think is very important in the learning process.
JOSHUA
While I really like Cornell for the small class sizes and the block plan schedule, in which you only take one class at a time every eighteen weekdays, the quality of life in terms of food and housing is rather lacking. To pay upwards of $60,000 a year to go to school that is lacking in several areas that many other schools are better in where you pay less, is just an absolute joke. The food is not very good and they don't seem to care to change it. Students who do work study get paid the national minimum, yet only get a few hours of work a week on top of it. The housing is rather lacking with only two dormitories on the entire campus having an elevator. There are many buildings, primarily dormitories that need renovation, yet they instead choose to spend the money on unnecessary things or other buildings to attract the public eye, yet leave the actual students in the dark. I like the school for the people here, as well as the block plan, but even then, the block plan still often fails based on the subject. Mixing that with professors who can sometimes be unfair to students and you have a recipe for disaster. I'm in my third year, so I will bite the bullet and finish, but sometimes I wish that I had just gone to a state school.
Stefany
I come from Chicago IL a very lively big city, so Cornell College is not like my usual environment. I can confidently say I have made the best decision to continue my academic career at Cornell College. Although, there are not many minorities on campus I still feel confident, safe, and able to speak my mind freely. The staff are amazing people that want to see you grow not only academically but also as an individual. Cornell College really prepares you for the real world as cliche as that sounds.
Jasmine
I have only been at Cornell College for a short time, however, my time here has been wonderful. I feel safe on campus, my classes are rigorous and stimulate my mind, the professors are caring and are almost always available. I love Cornell and I am so glad I chose to continue my education here. The academic program is unique from all other colleges and although it has been a major and stressful adjustment it has helped me learn time management. Because of this wonderfully unique program, I feel like I am becoming a proper adult and am one step closer to reaching my career goals. I would recommend Cornell College to anyone who seeks a challenge and wants to make a difference.
Christopher
This institution has great professors but staff and care for students needs much improvement.
I was in a car accident late 2016 and so I was disenrolled to avoid unnecessary tuition fees during the 2 months I was in the hospital and when I returned to the college hoping to reinstate my enrollment I was told I would not be able to until my balance was covered in full. I begged the school to tap into school funds and help me and my request was denied, instead the school raised money to renovate the football field.
I also was told that since I was not a student I was unable to reside in my old dorm room, despite the fact that all of my clothes and belongings were being held in there.
Having no place to go I had to stay in friends dorms until the earliest flight home a week and a half later. I did not have money and was not given a meal pass so I would have to settle for snacks throughout the day to get by.
After about 5 days of staying with friends I explained my situation with a resident Assistant (student friend of mine) and they allowed me to stay in my room.
I had a broken back, hip, pelvis, and hand from the accident along with nerve damage in my left leg and two dislocated shoulder cuffs.
I contacted a church and they held my items for me for a year because I had no way of getting them home. Mice got into two boxes and I lived off of a duffel bag full of clothes because the school offered no assistance to me in my time of need. I reached out at least two times after this and was refused aid yet I kept receiving tuition statements in the mail.
Send your children somewhere that is willing to care for them
����� For the professor's who care
� For an institution who's main concern is money
ariana
I visited Cornell last week and I had a great experience. The college was very beautiful, and I really admired the preserved historic buildings. It is a small school, so I can tell that there is a strong sense of community, especially with the OCAAT curriculum. I think that this is a great curriculum that is really effective, and has me excited for the next year!!
Gabriel
I love Cornell. We take One Class At A Time. So for 18 school days, or 3.5 weeks, you are in one class. You only have one class to focus on, one final to study for, plenty of time for sports, clubs and other activities/organisations. It is a very small college, so between 5-20 students in a class (although it is rare you have 20). The block plan isn't for everyone, but I encourage everyone to give it a shot. It is an expensive school, but they have plenty of scholarships, and if you are serious about education you shouldn't be scared of money.
Maia
Cornell College is a fantastic little school in rural Iowa. The block plan is a really great way to learn, because it keeps class sizes very small. You really get to know your professors and your classmates. If you're looking for a bigger, more connected school, this isn't the one for you, but it's great for anyone seeking a close-knit campus in a beautiful setting.
Leonard
It's a great small school that has a great community within the student body and the staff.
Shay
Overall I generally enjoy Cornell College. Their academic curriculum of one course at a time is very efficient and effective for me. I feel like I am learning life skills while attending Cornell College that are going to be beneficial in my future.
Suna
Cornell College pushes students to build their character and skills inside and outside of class. Overall, I have learned who I am as an individual at Cornell College and how I can plan my future accordingly. I am positive that I will be ready to jump into a different environment at the end of my Cornell College career.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Cornell College is 70%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Find a college where you are comfortable - don't let institutions swoon you with their fancy gimmicks. Know what you want and expect to get for the money you spend and find it. Don't compromise - remember, this is where you'll live and hopefully encounter some life changing experiences and lessons. It has to be a good fit. When on campus, get involved. Use your time in college to become that well-rounded individual. Of course, maintain excellence in academics but join student organizations, athletics, or service organization. College is not only a time where one learns and crafts interests but it is also a time where one experiences self discovery - a time where you learn a form of independence. Enjoy the experience. There are few occasions in life where one is given an opportunity to spend such focused time studying personal interests and spending time with individuals in the same life situation.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
We live in a bubble, disconnected from world events and other people. This makes it hard to get jobs after college and social interactions are a little odd especially when we are all stuck together for winter. The things we learn here seem applicable a lot of the time only in the bubble as well as the things we choose to do while here. Many of the issues we discuss while on campus seem very unimportant in real life and when outside of the bubble.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
Overall, I really do like Cornell. But I have 3 minor beefs with the school:
1. The administration has some policies that seem more appropriate for a boarding school than a college. The write-ups for alcohol are stringent, and there is no amnesty policy. There is a zero tolerance drug policy (including marijuana). But more disappointingly, these policies are advertised as being community building, when really they just encourage even more dangerous student behavior.
2. Cornell really bills itself as a school with an international student body and focus, with myriad opportunities around the globe. The opportunities exist. But the student population is not nearly as intellectually curious or diverse as advertised. Most of the people I know are not particularly interested in taking a block in a foreign country; they'd rather just take a vacation from school.
3. The food. It's really repetitive and there is a serious lack of vegan/vegetarian friendly options. Props to whoever designed the cafeteria, though, for giving students ways to customize whatever's for dinner. There's a sandwich/quesedilla press, always vegetarian and meat chilis, and there are usually the ingrediants to make a pretty decent salad or bagel pizza. But it would be nice if we didn't always have to resort to making our own food.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The feeling of being trapped within only 18 days, expected to continue even when we're not feeling well; striving for a good grade when the A we start out with today can become a perpetual F tomorrow, no rest, no sleep, just work and more work, then block break comes, and we'll think it was all worth the work.
The size of the school is perfect (1200), though socially it can feel small if you restrict yourself to hanging out only with those in your main social group. People tend to spend their most of their time on campus hanging out in the dorms, but you'll always see people in commons and the library. The town is tiny, basically just a main street, but it has some really cool shops and restaurants. It's 20 minutes to the nearest walmart and to anything open after 10 pm, so a car is really awesome to have. Cornell is the kind of school where a lot of people go to games, and there's a sizable audience at most performing arts events.
Cornell's academics are incredibly unique: we take classes on the block plan. That means that we basically take 1 course each month, with a 4 day weekend in between. Since we take one course at a time (and have a built in vacation block if we want it), our academic calendar is incredibly customizable. You can take a chemistry class on campus block 5, spend block six in the bahamas studying slavery, and intern in chicago the next. Most people don't, but the options are there.
While the individual class experience is incredibly varied, the vast majority of courses are capped at 25 students and most professors really care about your success. Students are very collaborative. There isn't really any sense of competition here. Overall, I haven't met very many true intellectuals, but the people here are for the most part very smart.
The most popular departments seem to be science-related. There are a lot of kinesiology majors, and the special office for advising pre-med students means that there are a lot of future doctors, dentists, and pharmacists on campus. The other standout departments are definitely theater and music. Theater is nationally ranked by princeton review, and the music department has a very supportive program that is very large for a school of Cornell's size.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
There really are no stereotypes for the whole student body. There are some jocks, some nerds we refer to as "Narnians" but really everyone is just normal. It's easy to make friends and everyone gets to know everybody on a campus this size.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
Greek organizations dominate the social life for a large portion of the student body. Because there are so many (14), there are parties almost every weekend, although they are not the ragers that you see in movies. The school does sponsor some dry activities on the weekends, but most of the time you have make your own fun, dry or sober. Because Cornell is on the block plan, parties tend not to happen on weeknights (you really can't miss class), and it's not unheard of to have a paper due on Friday nights. Everyone's usually in bed by midnight during the week, and 2 or 3 am on weekends.
Since practically everyone lives in the dorms, there's definitely a community. You'll see lots of doors open on a typical night. There are a lot of couples on campus, but there's definitely a lot of hooking up, too.
If you want to do something off-campus, you can drive into Cedar Rapids (20 minutes) to see a movie or go out to eat. In Mount Vernon there are some cute restaurants and shops. There is a bowling alley, a grocery store, and a tiny movie theater. Campus is hilly, and there are definitely places to sled, and there's even an official sledding hill in town that's closed to traffic in the winter.
The best thing about this school is the block schedule. It is something different from most other schools, and in my opinion is a much easier way of having classes. Though the classes are quite fast paced.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
I'd say these are relatively accurate stereotypes. There are a lot of athletes and greek organization members here, and they really do rule the school (yes, it's kind of like high school). The so-called Narnians are definitely an eclectic bunch; they LARP and play humans vs. zombies. But there are also a fair amount of people who are not big on the greek scene but who are considered to be pretty normal. Most importantly, though, there isn't a whole lot of tension between the groups. It really only surfaces in the cafeteria (where each main group: the middle-earthians, narnians, and jocks) has its own seating area.
What is the stereotype of students at your school?
There are 2 stereotypical groups within the school itself (not enough people outside the bubble know it enough to harbor stereotypes!). The first stereotype is that the school is ruled by your typical football-playing frat boy and ugg-wearing sorority girl. Then there are the 'Narnians.' These are, according to the jocks, the weird kids.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
100% of students attending Cornell College receive some sort of financial aid.
26% were awarded federal grants.68%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.