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Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

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

Plan Your Visit

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

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.

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

36.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.3%/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

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%

Mixed

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.

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Volleyball

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

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

Deadline Calendar

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Cornell College Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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