Cornell Admissions 2024-2025

Cornell University recently released its Common Data Set (CDS) for 2024-2025, and the figures shed light on who wins admission to Ithaca each year. Below is a data-driven look at Cornell’s newest first-year class and the factors that shaped the admissions committee’s decisions.

Admissions Statistics – Highly Selective

• Total first-year applications: 65,612

• Students admitted: 5,516

• Overall acceptance rate: ≈ 8.4 %

• Students who ultimately enrolled: 3,525

• Yield (share of admits who said “yes”): ≈ 63.9 %

Cornell’s admit rate sits below 10 %, underscoring that every part of the application must shine.

Geographic Distribution

• New York residents enrolled: 1,104 (≈ 31 %)

• Other U.S. states/territories enrolled: 2,025 (≈ 57 %)

• International citizens enrolled: 355 (≈ 10 %)

Nearly two-thirds of the class comes from outside New York, and one in ten new Cornellians holds a foreign passport—evidence of the university’s broad national and global pull.

Cornell therefore remains a truly national—and increasingly global—destination.

Academic Profile of Admitted Students

• Middle-50 % SAT (submitted by ≈ 45 % of enrollees):
  • Composite 1510-1560
  • EBRW 730-770
  • Math 770-800

• Middle-50 % ACT (submitted by ≈ 15 %): Composite 33-35

• High-school class rank (18 % reported rank):
  • 85.6 % were in the top tenth
  • 95.5 % were in the top quarter

Cornell remained test-optional, yet those who did submit scores were near-perfect. The small fraction reporting class rank still shows stunning academic dominance.

Factors in Admission Decisions

Very Important

1. Rigor of secondary-school record – Whether applicants pursued the most challenging courses available.

2. Application essay – Quality of personal narrative and reflection.

3. Recommendations – Insight from teachers and counselors on academics and character.

4. Extracurricular activities – Depth, leadership, and impact outside class.

5. Talent/ability – Demonstrated excellence in a particular domain (academic, artistic, athletic, etc.).

6. Character/personal qualities – Integrity, resilience, and contributions to community.

Important

1. Class rank – Standing relative to classmates (where schools report rank).

2. Academic GPA – Overall performance in graded coursework.

Key Takeaways for Applicants

• Course Rigor Reigns: Taking (and excelling in) the toughest courses is Cornell’s top priority.

• Holistic Academic Excellence: Strong grades and high class rank still matter, but they alone are insufficient.

• Story & Impact: Essays, recommendations, and sustained extracurricular impact all carry the same weight as GPA.

• Testing Strategy: Submitting stellar scores can help, but the majority of admits either did not submit or were evaluated in a broader context.

• Geographic Reach: With two-thirds of first-years from outside New York and 11 % international, Cornell prizes diversity of background and perspective.

• Early Decision Edge: Committing early provided a modest acceptance-rate bump (11.6 % vs 8.4 %).

Cornell’s 2024-2025 data confirm an intensely competitive landscape where intellectual rigor, authentic engagement, and compelling personal narratives intersect. For students aiming to join the Big Red, demonstrating excellence across academics, character, and activities—and crafting essays that tie those threads together—remains the clearest path to “Ezra’s Hill.”

At Cosmic College Consulting, we're here to help you navigate this competitive landscape and put your best foot forward in the application process. Feel free to reach out if you have questions about crafting your Cornell application strategy!