Cornell College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It enrolls 1,086 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes55
Value31
Affordability41
Selectivity57
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 79.9%, Cornell College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
79.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1120 – 1285
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Cornell College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
18.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Cornell College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,634 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,634
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
65%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$52,660
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,850
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,850
Books & Supplies
$1,320
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,220
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,220
Total Cost of Attendance
$66,249
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,409
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,513
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,177
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,944
Over $110,000
$29,298
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$35,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,500
↓ $5,500
No Pell $20,692
↓ $6,308
Female students $23,250
↓ $3,750
Male students $20,000
↓ $7,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Cornell College graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cornell College earn a median of $53,460 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,460
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Cornell College is home to 1,086 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,086
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.6%745
Hispanic 11.4%124
Black 8.3%90
Asian 3.7%40
International 3.2%35
Other 2.9%31
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Cornell College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeMount Vernon, Iowa
Housing
Strongly residential1,062 beds for 1,086 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Cornell College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
40 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cornell College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$181M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,445
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
75 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
40
53%
$80,313
Associate Professors
15
20%
$65,086
Assistant Professors
20
27%
$65,236
Pros & Cons of Cornell College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cornell College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Cornell College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cornell College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cornell College.
Is Cornell College hard to get into?
Cornell College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 79.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Cornell College?
Cornell College has an acceptance rate of 79.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Cornell College scored between 1120 and 1285 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Cornell College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Cornell College scored between 23 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Cornell College cost?
The average net price after aid at Cornell College is $23,634 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cornell College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,460 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,634 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cornell College known for?
Cornell College is best known for its programs in Management Sciences, Kinesiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cornell College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cornell College are $53,460, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cornell College accredited?
Yes. Cornell College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Cornell College?
Cornell College enrolls 1,086 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell College?
Cornell College graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cornell College a public or private college?
Cornell College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Cornell College located?
Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
What programs does Cornell College offer?
Cornell College offers 40 distinct programs. The most popular include Management Sciences, Kinesiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cornell College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cornell College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Iowa
Other colleges in Iowa share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Psychology
Teacher Education (K-12)
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