The average acceptance rate at Cornell over the past 10 years is 73.25%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 79.90%. The acceptance rate at Cornell is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 16.36%, and the 2025 yield is 14.29%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 29.36% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Cornell applicants decreased by 18.30% (565 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 30.27% overall.
Key Takeaways: Cornell Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 79.90%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that Cornell is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 14.29%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Cornell. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, Cornell received approximately 2,522 applications, admitted 2,015 students, and enrolled 288 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Cornell is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Acceptance Rate Changes
Cornell 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Cornell over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 73.25%, while the most recent rate stands at 79.90%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 79.90%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 70.40% and for women is 75.92%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Cornell have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
Cornell has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 20.23% in 2015 to 14.29% in 2025, representing a 29.36% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 16.36%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Cornell from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 29.36% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 2,594, the average number of admitted is 1,909, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 300.
The number of Cornell applicants decreased by 18.30% (565 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 30.27% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Cornell College from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares Cornell College' acceptance rate to similar schools.