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Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPrivate

Known for business — close-knit campus

Cornell College is a private institution in Mount Vernon with particular strength in business and biology. With an average SAT of 1246, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.1K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

72% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $53,460 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $25,079.

Established
1853
Motto
Deus et Humanitas
Type
Private liberal arts college
Conference
NCAA Division III sports
Division
Division III

Plan Your Visit

81%Acceptance
1246SAT Avg
1,074Students
12:1Student:Faculty
72%Grad Rate
$53,460Earnings 10yr
$25,079Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Cornell College Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate80.7%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1246

Reading & WritingMid: 660
580655
MathMid: 620
570663

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 27
2330

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

80.7%

Trend

SAT Avg

1246

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$50,634
Room & Board$11,358
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$64,336
Average Net Price$25,079
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$18,285
$30–48K$17,873
$48–75K$22,174
$75–110K$26,134
$110K+$30,897

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

36.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$21,500

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

6

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (45)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

74%

Negative
  • •74% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,074
Gender Split
46% / 54%
Women / Men
First Generation
20%
Pell Grant Recipients
29%

Race & Ethnicity

White 72%
Black 8%
Hispanic 10%
Asian 3%
Two+ 1%
Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate71.7%
Freshman Retention74.2%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$39,299
10 Years$53,460

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Volleyball

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ORD Chicago O'Hare181 mi
MKE Milwaukee193 mi
MSP Minneapolis-St Paul223 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1041 mi · ~30h 4m drive
New York, NY906 mi · ~26h 10m drive
Hartford, CT963 mi · ~27h 49m drive
Providence, RI1027 mi · ~29h 40m drive
Albany, NY903 mi · ~26h 5m drive
Syracuse, NY781 mi · ~22h 34m drive
Rochester, NY708 mi · ~20h 27m drive
Buffalo, NY643 mi · ~18h 35m drive
Philadelphia, PA858 mi · ~24h 47m drive
Pittsburgh, PA603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Harrisburg, PA765 mi · ~22h 6m drive
Newark, NJ897 mi · ~25h 55m drive
Washington, DC784 mi · ~22h 39m drive
Baltimore, MD797 mi · ~23h 1m drive
Atlanta, GA682 mi · ~19h 42m drive
Charlotte, NC734 mi · ~21h 12m drive
Raleigh, NC807 mi · ~23h 19m drive
Miami, FL1287 mi · ~37h 11m drive
Orlando, FL1083 mi · ~31h 17m drive
Tampa, FL1089 mi · ~31h 28m drive
Nashville, TN469 mi · ~13h 33m drive
New Orleans, LA831 mi · ~24h drive
Richmond, VA801 mi · ~23h 8m drive
Chicago, IL195 mi · ~5h 38m drive
Detroit, MI430 mi · ~12h 25m drive
Minneapolis, MN230 mi · ~6h 39m drive
St. Louis, MO237 mi · ~6h 51m drive
Kansas City, MO256 mi · ~7h 24m drive
Indianapolis, IN313 mi · ~9h 3m drive
Columbus, OH460 mi · ~13h 17m drive
Cleveland, OH502 mi · ~14h 30m drive
Milwaukee, WI195 mi · ~5h 38m drive
Dallas, TX697 mi · ~20h 8m drive
Houston, TX869 mi · ~25h 6m drive
Austin, TX879 mi · ~25h 24m drive
San Antonio, TX950 mi · ~27h 27m drive
Los Angeles, CA1551 mi · ~44h 48m drive
San Francisco, CA1660 mi · ~47h 57m drive
San Diego, CA1543 mi · ~44h 35m drive
Seattle, WA1555 mi · ~44h 55m drive
Portland, OR1570 mi · ~45h 21m drive
Denver, CO724 mi · ~20h 55m drive
Phoenix, AZ1267 mi · ~36h 36m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1062 mi · ~30h 41m drive
Honolulu, HI4054 mi · ~117h 7m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Chicago O'Hare (ORD)181 miles
Rental car
272 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
362 min$217-362
Milwaukee (MKE)193 miles
Rental car
290 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
386 min$232-386

Deadline Calendar

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Cornell College Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Cornell College — v2 Preview — TourStack