🐻Cornell University

Ithaca, NY, US

QS World 2026 · #16

The Ivy League's most academically broad member, including dedicated Hotel and Agriculture schools.

About Cornell

Cornell is unusual among the Ivy League for having several highly specific specialist colleges alongside its general liberal arts college — including the School of Hotel Administration and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences — giving it degree options no other Ivy offers. Some of its colleges are partially state-supported, which affects cost for certain programmes.

Why students choose it

  • Unique specialist schools: Hotel Administration, Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Broadest range of undergraduate colleges of any Ivy League school
  • Rural Ithaca, NY campus — a very different setting from its Ivy peers

🎓 Free application support for Cornell

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to Cornell — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

A*AA (A Level)  ·  IB 40

Top tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

$60,000+/yr

premium tier for US — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Ithaca, NY

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Cornell's financial aid office.

Scholarship access for international students is more limited than for US citizens — most need-based financial aid programmes are domestic-only, and only a small number of universities are 'need-blind' or meet full demonstrated need for international applicants. Merit scholarships (not tied to financial need) are more widely available and are the main route for most applicants.

  • University merit scholarships: Named awards like 'Presidential' or 'Dean's' scholarships at many universities — automatically considered from your application, based on academic record and sometimes essays/interviews.
  • Need-blind / full-need-met universities: A small group of highly selective universities (e.g. Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, Amherst) admit international students without considering ability to pay and meet full demonstrated financial need — extremely competitive to gain admission in the first place.
  • Fulbright Program: US government-funded, but for postgraduate/research study and exchange, not linked to undergraduate admission.

Most US universities in this tool are private and do not offer significant need-based aid to international students — check each university's own international financial aid policy before assuming support is available.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Hotel Administration

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Computer Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics

Veterinary

⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school; typically a 4-year postgraduate DVM entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)

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Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology · Not required at Bachelor's entry — Veterinary Medicine is a postgraduate DVM here at most schools, entered after a Bachelor's degree with required science prerequisites. · Relevant animal/veterinary work experience is weighted heavily in the application

Architecture

⏱️ Typical duration: Often longer than a standard Bachelor's — commonly a 3-year Bachelor's plus a further 2-year Master's for full professional accreditation

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Typical entry: Portfolio

Durations are typical for US — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall)
Typical deadline
Regular Decision around 1 January
Note
Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall

TOEFL: 80–100 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

See where Cornell ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free US University Shortlist Builder to see whether Cornell is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other US university that matches.

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More US universities

Cornell FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Cornell as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into Cornell?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, Cornell expects around A*AA at A Level or 40 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Cornell's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Cornell's own admissions page before applying.

How much does Cornell cost for international students?

International tuition at Cornell typically falls in the $60,000+/yr range (premium tier for US). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Cornell's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for Cornell?

Cornell follows US's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), with applications generally due regular decision around 1 january. Early Action / Early Decision rounds close around 1 November for students applying to one top-choice school early. Always verify the exact date on Cornell's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for Cornell?

US universities, including Cornell, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall. Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test. Many US universities also accept Duolingo English Test.

What is Cornell known for?

The Ivy League's most academically broad member, including dedicated Hotel and Agriculture schools. Cornell is unusual among the Ivy League for having several highly specific specialist colleges alongside its general liberal arts college — including the School of Hotel Administration and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences — giving it degree options no other Ivy offers. Some of its colleges are partially state-supported, which affects cost for certain programmes.

Can I apply to Cornell with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — Cornell accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free US University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Cornell and every other US university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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