Cornell University

Cornell University is a private Ivy League research university founded in 1865. Its main campus is in Ithaca, in upstate New York, while the Cornell Tech graduate campus and Weill Cornell Medicine are in New York City. Cornell is 12th in the ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026, joint 16th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and joint 18th in the THE World University Rankings 2026. First-year applicants use the Common App and apply directly to one college: by 1 November 2026 for binding Early Decision or by 2 January 2027 for Regular Decision, and SAT or ACT scores are required. The 2026–27 cost of attendance for an international undergraduate is $99,734, excluding health insurance. Cornell meets the full demonstrated need of admitted international students, but their admission is need-aware. In fall 2025 Cornell admitted 8.4% of all applicants and 3.6% of international applicants.

Who Cornell suits, and who should choose elsewhere

Cornell suits applicants with a clear direction who want a campus university with strong research: engineering, computing and the sciences, agriculture and biology, architecture, economics, hospitality or public policy. If you want a big city, compare NYU; for a similar aid model in a different setting, the University of Pennsylvania. Our guide to Ivy League admissions explains how the group works.

Cornell's colleges: choose before you apply

Cornell states that you apply directly to one college or school, each with its own requirements and essay. First-year applicants can apply to:

• College of Arts and Sciences: humanities, natural and social sciences;
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS): life sciences, agriculture, environment and food science; Cornell's second-largest college by students;
• Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering: one of the two teacher recommendations must come from a mathematics, science or computer science teacher;
• College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP): a portfolio or design supplement is required where the programme asks for it;
• Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: including the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the Nolan School of Hotel Administration;
• College of Human Ecology: psychology, nutrition, design and human health;
• School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR): applied social science of work and employment;
• Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy: public policy.

The computer science and information science departments sit in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. Check the major's page in Cornell's list of majors to see which college to apply through before you write the essay.

CALS, Human Ecology and ILR are New York State contract colleges, which charge lower tuition to New York residents. International students pay the same rate in every college.

How to apply as an undergraduate

Application components

• Common App and the Cornell supplement with your college's essay (the supplement can follow the main application, but aim to submit it by the deadline).
• Fee of $85, or a Common App fee waiver if you qualify.
• Transcript listing completed and in-progress courses; Early Decision applicants are encouraged to send first-period grades, and mid-year grades are required when available.
• Recommendations. One from your school counsellor and two from teachers; at least two of the three should come from people not related to you.
• SAT or ACT, required for first-year applicants. You may self-report on the Common App, but enrolling students must send official scores. Cornell uses the highest section scores across sittings; the ACT Science section is not required.
• English. No test is needed if English is your native language or your last four years of study were taught in English. Otherwise, to be most competitive: TOEFL 100 for tests taken before January 2026; for later tests a minimum of 5.0 with 5.5 recommended; IELTS 7.5; Duolingo 130; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 191.
• Portfolio for AAP, and an optional music supplement for musically talented applicants.

For essays and supplements, see our overview of applying to US universities.

Early or regular round

The higher Early Decision admit rate does not make the plan right for everyone: under a binding decision you cannot compare aid from other universities. International applicants who need aid should estimate it first with Cornell's net price calculator.

Step-by-step plan for 2026–27

1. September 2026. Choose your college and major, take the English test and book an SAT or ACT date that reports in time.
2. September–October. Ask your counsellor and two teachers for recommendations (for engineering, one in maths, science or computer science); write the college essay; prepare an AAP portfolio if needed.
3. By 1 November or 2 January. Submit the Common App, Cornell supplement and fee. If you need aid, file the CSS Profile by the same date.
4. After submitting. Respond to document requests through IDOC and upload mid-year grades.
5. Mid-December 2026 or late March 2027. Admission decision and preliminary aid estimate.
6. Spring–summer 2027. Deposit, financial documents for the I-20 and the F-1 visa.

Key dates for fall 2027

Graduate study and Cornell Tech

Cornell's graduate school is organised by "fields" of study: there are nearly 100, and they cut across traditional departments, so research easily extends beyond a single unit. Beyond Ithaca, Cornell Tech in New York City runs graduate programmes at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. The Johnson Graduate School of Management (MBA), the Law School, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and Doha admit separately. Deadlines, GRE policy and prices are set by each programme; the Graduate School's baseline English requirement is IELTS Academic 7.0 overall or TOEFL iBT section minimums (old scale: speaking 22, reading 20, listening 15, writing 20; new scale: 4, 4, 3.5 and 4). The Graduate School does not accept Duolingo. See our guide to the MBA in the USA.

What Cornell costs

International students use the first column whichever college they attend. The Cornell Student Health Plan is not included: students without adequate coverage are enrolled and billed automatically, and loan funding can be requested to cover it. Flights and summer costs come on top. For a four-year budget, see our breakdown of the cost of studying in the USA.

Financial aid for international students

• Admission for international students is need-aware: interest in or need for aid is one factor among many.
• Cornell meets 100% of admitted international undergraduates' demonstrated need with grants, an annual work-study award and reasonable loans depending on family income.
• You must apply for aid at the same time as for admission: the CSS Profile by 1 November (Early Decision) or 2 January (Regular Decision). If you miss this deadline, you cannot apply for aid at any point during your undergraduate studies.
• International students are generally not eligible for CSS Profile fee waivers.
• Levitan Family Scholarships go to five international first-years a year who attended school outside the US and need significant aid: a full scholarship for the whole bachelor's degree while the GPA stays at 3.0 or above, plus support for internships and research.

According to the Common Data Set 2025–26, 318 international undergraduates received institutional aid averaging $88,263 a year. Cornell decides on every award. Outside funding options are listed in our overview of financial aid for international students.

Housing

Cornell has a two-year residential requirement for first- and second-year students, including a required meal plan, and more than 55% of undergraduates live on campus. For a first-year that means a guaranteed room and a ready-made community. From the third year students take part in upper-level housing selection or rent in Ithaca. Renting advice is in our article on student housing in the USA.

Student visa and part-time work

Once Cornell has proof that tuition and living costs are covered, it issues the I-20, the core document for an F-1 visa. Before the interview you pay the SEVIS fee of $350 and the $185 consular fee. Russian citizens book interviews at the US embassy in Warsaw or Astana, since Moscow no longer processes their visas. The consul decides whether to issue the visa. Documents and booking are covered in our F-1 student visa guide.

Campus jobs are capped at 20 hours a week during term, and for students on aid a work-study award is already built into the package. Graduates can work in their field for 12 months on OPT, and STEM graduates for up to 24 months more. See working while studying and OPT.

What makes Cornell easier or harder to reach from Russia, Kazakhstan and the rest of the CIS

Pros:

• a wide choice of colleges lets you match your profile precisely, from engineering to hotel administration;
• admitted international students have their full demonstrated need met;
• the two-year residential requirement removes the housing question;
• Early Decision brings an answer in December.

Cons:

• a 3.6% admit rate for international applicants, with aid requests considered in the decision;
• the SAT or ACT is required and must be taken before the autumn deadlines, possibly in another country;
• the expected English level is high: IELTS 7.5 or TOEFL 5.5 on the new scale;
• the CSS Profile and IDOC require translated family income documents;
• bills are issued in US dollars, and any transfer from Russia must use a legal route; the options are set out in our article on paying for studies abroad from Russia.

Mistakes to avoid

• Applying to a college without checking that it offers your major. Essays and requirements are written for a specific college.
• Not applying for aid with the application. International students cannot apply later.
• Asking relatives for recommendations. At least two of the three should come from people not related to you.
• Forgetting the maths or science recommendation for engineering. Duffield requires one from a maths, science or computer science teacher.
• Leaving out insurance. It is not part of the $99,734 budget.
• Choosing Early Decision because of the statistics. A higher early admit rate says nothing about your own prospects, while the commitment is real.

Checklist before you apply

• You have chosen a college and confirmed that your intended major is admitted through it.
• Your SAT or ACT is done in time to self-report it on the Common App by 1 November or 2 January.
• English is covered: IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130 or TOEFL 5.0–5.5 on the new scale, unless your last four years were taught in English.
• Your counsellor and two teachers have agreed to write; for engineering, one teacher covers maths, science or computer science.
• AAP applicants have a portfolio or design task ready.
• If you need aid, the CSS Profile goes in by the application deadline and your family's income documents are translated for IDOC.

Admission statistics

Common Data Set 2025–26: for fall 2025 Cornell received 72,523 first-year applications and admitted 6,077 (8.4%). International applicants filed 18,566 applications; 664 were admitted (3.6%) and 389 enrolled. Early Decision drew 10,057 applications with 1,889 admits. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1490–1550 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT. These figures describe the competition, not any individual's prospects.

Rankings

FAQ

Can I apply to Cornell straight after secondary school?

Yes. A school-leaving certificate qualifies you for first-year entry. You also need SAT or ACT scores, English results, three recommendations and your college's essay.

Does Cornell require the SAT?

Yes. Cornell has reinstated the SAT or ACT requirement for first-year applicants. Scores can be self-reported at first, but enrolling students must send official results.

How much does a year at Cornell cost?

For 2026–27, $99,734 for an international student: tuition $73,946, fees $1,024, housing and food $21,348 plus other costs. Health insurance is extra.

Does Cornell give financial aid to international students?

Yes. Cornell meets the full demonstrated need of admitted international students with grants, work-study and, depending on income, a reasonable loan. Admission for international students is need-aware. In 2025–26, 318 international undergraduates received aid averaging $88,263.

What English level does Cornell expect?

For a competitive application: TOEFL 100 (tests before 2026) or 5.0 with 5.5 recommended on the new scale, IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130 or Cambridge 191.

What is Cornell Tech?

Cornell's graduate campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City, offering programmes that combine technology and entrepreneurship. It does not admit undergraduates.

Can StudyU help with a Cornell application?

Under a service agreement we help you choose a college, plan test dates, discuss essay ideas, organise recommendations and assemble CSS Profile and visa documents. The applicant writes the essays and submits the application; Cornell decides on admission and aid, and the US consulate on the visa.

Sources

• Cornell Admissions: How to Apply — First-Year Applicants
• Cornell Admissions: Standardized Testing Policy
• Cornell Admissions: Residential Life and Dining
• Cornell Financial Aid: Cost to Attend
• Cornell Financial Aid: International First-Year and Transfer Students
• Cornell Housing: First-Year Undergraduates
• Cornell Housing
• Cornell: Colleges & Schools
• Cornell: About
• Cornell Common Data Set
• US Embassy in Russia: Visas
• ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
• QS World University Rankings 2027
• THE World University Rankings 2026

All amounts are in US dollars as published by Cornell; figures were checked on 24 September 2026. For other US universities, see studying in the USA. Help choosing the Cornell college and application plan that fit your profile is provided under an agreement with StudyU — to start, submit an application.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.