Cornell College campus
Cornell College logo

Cornell College

Type 4 year, Private
Business Model Non Profit
Campus locale Town: Fringe
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Common app member Yes
Dormitory capacity 1,060
Religious affiliation Methodism
Student to faculty ratio 12 to 1
Acceptance rate 81%
Students retention rate 78%
On-time graduation rate 64%

Located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, Cornell College is a private, non profit institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

The acceptance rate of 81% indicates that Cornell College is open to a wide range of applicants, providing opportunities for a diverse student body.

Cornell College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, Cornell College emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

Cornell College boasts an impressive student retention rate of 78% , indicating that the majority of students choose to continue their education at the institution. This number surpasses both the state and national averages of 86% and 74%, respectively.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

81.1%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$47,726

Cost of attendance at Cornell College in 2022 for students from Iowa.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Iowa's average $9,543
National average $30,235

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$47,726

Cost of attendance at Cornell College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year Non Profit, private colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Iowa's average $25,701
National average $30,238

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 100 of freshman students at Cornell College received on average $37,745 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$37,745
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 85 29% $5,454 $463,625
Other Federal Grant 274 94% $2,590 $709,630
State Grant/Scholarships 44 15% $5,650 $248,600
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 290 100% $34,441 $9,987,920
Total Grant & Scholarships 290 100% $37,745 $10,946,150

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Cornell College students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Cornell College students is 63.8%. Female students graduated at a rate of 69.3%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 59.2%.

63.8%

  • asian 71.4% 5 students
  • African American 57.1% 8 students
  • white 62.6% 114 students
  • unknown 65.6% 21 students
  • hispanic 59.1% 13 students
  • International Students 63.6% 7 students
  • Mixed Race 100.0% 4 students

Sport Conferences

  • Football Midwest Conference
  • Baseball Midwest Conference
  • Basketball Midwest Conference
  • Track and Cross Country Midwest Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Cornell College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Academic/career counseling services

Educational Offerings

Cornell College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification

Veteran Services

  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)

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