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Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314

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Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege townGreek life

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

Campus Visits

20 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour
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

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate80.7%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1246

Reading & WritingMid: 660
580655
MathMid: 620
570663

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 27
2330

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

80.7%

Trend

SAT Avg

1246

Yield Rate

35.0%

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

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$25,079

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

3600.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$21,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

6

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Programs (45)

Student Life

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
8 Years$49,843
10 Years$53,460

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women
$40,600
Men
$51,800

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
Forbes
#52

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

89Low

Estimated from IA state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Chicagopop. 2.7M
195 mi(338 min)
Milwaukeepop. 570K
195 mi(338 min)
Minneapolispop. 430K
230 mi(399 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Cornell College Application Checklist

Decision Notifications