Published in: Career Opportunities

Explore the Top majors at Cornell University for 2027

Author Proresumes Team

Published on: September 3, 2026

Cornell University was founded in 1865 and is among the Ivy League and top universities in America. The motto of the university was to provide world-class education for anyone in any discipline, according to Ezra Cornell.

The Cornell University acceptance rate is around 8 to 9 percent, which is higher than other Ivy League schools. Moreover, the cost of attending an academic year at Cornell is around $99,734.

If you’re interested in majors like engineering, biological sciences, or hotel administration, then explore Cornell.

What are the best degree programs at Cornell University for graduates and undergraduates?

Choosing a university major at Cornell isn’t an easy thing since the institute offers a range of majors and minors. Sometimes the student’s decision is impacted by peers’ stories, career counselors’ advice, or trying to shift majors.

Cornell also offers the unique opportunity for students to take classes from other majors and learn more. However, if you want the support to choose the right major at the university, check the following:

Cornell University undergraduate degrees

The following academic degree programs are considered top majors at Cornell University:

• Engineering

The engineering programs at Cornell are considered the best and include areas like:

1. Computer science
2. Mechanical engineering
3. Electrical engineering
4. Biomedical engineering

• Biological Sciences

It is best to get research opportunities in the medical field. Moreover, students are also required to choose from 14 different concentrations such as ecology, animals, and more.

• Architecture

This major provides various creative and impactful opportunities for undergraduates.

• Hotel Administration

This is considered a great Ivy League program that merges three areas like entrepreneurship, business analytics, and hospitality. It is also the one major with strong employment rates after getting graduated.

• Psychology and Economics

These programs are offered by the College of Arts & Sciences to support career exploration and social impact.

Cornell University graduate degrees

Here’s a list of the most popular academic programs at Cornell University for graduates:

• MBA at the SC Johnson College of Business
• Law from the JD program at Cornell Law School
• Graduate engineering programs at Cornell in majors like computer Science, environmental engineering, and biomedical engineering.
• Life sciences include MS and PHD programs in environmental, biological, and veterinary sciences.
• Graduate studies in Agriculture and Hotel Administration majors. The agriculture degrees teach both about food and the condition of agricultural markets.

Pick the best major for yourself by getting help from a career counselor or career strategist.

How to get into Cornell University for the 2026-2027 session?

Here’s how you can fulfil the admission requirements for the upcoming academic session at Cornell:

First-year applicants

You can be admitted to Cornell as a first-year applicant if you’ve never taken college courses or have less than 12 credits.

The following is the step-by-step process to get admitted as a first-year student:

• Pick an application plan among early decision and regular decision. Confirm the deadlines.
• Choose the Cornell college and school of your choice to check their separate eligibility requirements:

1. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
2. College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
3. College of Arts and Sciences
4. Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering
5. College of Human Ecology
6. Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
7. Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration
8. Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
9. School of Industrial Labor Relations

• Review and then submit the following documentation:
• Submit the application through the Common online application portal.
• Submit the $85 application fee or request a waiver from the university.
• Submit the required high school transcript with grades for all the courses or subjects studied.
• Ask your school counselor to submit the school report on your behalf.
• Submit a recommendation letter from a counselor, principal, or headmaster.
• Submit two recommendation letters from your teachers to highlight academic strengths.
• Submit the Cornell University supplement that includes the essay according to your college or school.
• Include the standardized SAT and ACT scores. (SAT requirements: 1390+)
• Include the additional information requested by the university.
• Apply for financial assistance during your academic year.
• Check the status of your application, documentation, and information through the Applicant Portal.

Transfer applicants

Transfer applicants at Cornell are those who have completed two years or less of their bachelor’s degree. The transfer applicant’s admission process is quite similar to the first-year applicants, including the following changes:

• Check the admission dates, timelines, and transfer policies.
• Submit the Transfer Common Application.
• Submit both high school and college official transcripts.
• Complete the College Report Request form to have the counselor at your college to submit your college report.
• Include the academic evaluation by a teacher. If you’ve not studied for two or more years, submit a professional or personal recommendation.
• Complete the Mid-term report and include all the courses that you’ve studied at college.
• Include the A-level, IB, or AP scores in the academic history part of the application form.
• Include a Cornell Transfer Writing Supplement response within 3000 characters.
• Submit the personal essay within 250 to 650 words.
• Submit additional documents according to the college or school you’ve chosen.

International applicants

The requirements for first-year and transfer applicants for international students are the same as the eligibility requirements for domestic ones. However, international students are required to check the following additional things:

• SAT subject scores are not required by Cornell University.
• International applicants should have strong English language proficiency. They should submit the following test scores: 
• TOEFL requirements: 100+
• IELTS requirements: 7.5+
• Duolingo English Test requirements: 130+

Graduate applicants

To be eligible for graduate studies at Cornell University, students must meet the following admission requirements:

• Research the professional and graduate program options at Cornell.
• Review the important policies or admission deadlines.
• Take the required tests, including GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS. (GRE: 316+, GMAT: 650+, IELTS: 7+, TOEFL: 100+)
• Get three letters of recommendation from your undergraduate faculty.
• Include an academic statement of purpose.
• Include a personal statement to cover your background and experiences in pursuing a graduate degree.
• US students should submit e-transcripts, while international students should submit the equivalency report for an international degree.
• Submit a $105 non-refundable admission fee or request a waiver.
• Review your application and submit it.
• Check the application status through your ApplyWeb account.

Is Cornell University not your first choice? Explore other options among top US universities reviewed by career experts.

What are the application deadlines for admission at Cornell University?

Here is a list of admission deadlines for different applicants at Cornell:

First-year applicants

The admission deadlines for first-year applicants are divided into two categories:

Early Decision

• November 1 for submission of application, application fee, or requesting a fee waiver. Students should also submit portfolios or additional documents according to Cornell’s academic program requirements.
• November 13: submit any required documents by the institute.
• To apply for financial aid as an international student, the application deadline is November 1.
• November 15 is the priority aid application date for local students to get financial aid.

Regular decision

• January 2 is the deadline for the submission of the application, application fee, or request for a waiver. Portfolio and documents should also be submitted according to academic program requirements.
• January 19 is the deadline to submit all the required documents.
• January 2 is the financial aid application deadline for international students.
• January 15 is the priority aid application deadline for US students.

Transfer applicants

The application deadlines for transfer students at Cornell University are:

• March 15: Submit the application, application fee, or request a fee waiver. Submit a portfolio and additional documents according to the academic program requirements.
• April 15: Submit all required documentation for admission.
• March 15: Submit financial aid application as an international student. Application deadline to get priority aid for domestic students.

Graduate applicants

The application deadlines for the graduate academic programs at Cornell will open in early September 2026.

What is the estimated cost of attendance and tuition fees at Cornell?

The average cost to study for a year at Cornell University is around $99,734. This means the cost to study a four-year or bachelor’s degree will be around $398,936. According to this estimate, the cost of attendance at Cornell is very expensive.

However, the university offers various types of financial aid options that can decrease the cost of attending.

Cornell University cost of attendance

Explore the main cost of attendance for undergraduates at Cornell University campuses.

The cost of attendance for the year 2026 to 2027 at endowed colleges is around:

The cost of attendance at NY state contract colleges for non-NY residents for the year 2026-2027 is:

The cost of attending a year at the state contract colleges for NY residents is around:

Note: The expenses for food, books, and housing expenses are billed by Cornell when the applicants choose on-campus housing options. Moreover, the $1024 mandatory fees for undergrads include $424 for the activity fee and $600 for Cornell Health services.

Explore the cost of attendance for graduate students at Cornell for 2026-2027.

Here’s the estimated cost of attendance at Cornell for ITHACA-based graduate and professional studies:

The cost of attending the academic year 2026-2027 for the New York City-based graduate and professional degrees:

Note: The mandatory fees in the cost of attendance include a $110 student activity fee and a $358 Cornell Health fee. 

Cornell University tuition fees

The tuition fee for undergraduate programs at Cornell University for academic year 2026-2027 is: 

The tuition fees to study at Cornell for a year vary according to the professional and graduate degrees:

What are the types of financial aid offered by Cornell University?

Cornell University financial aid is need-based and covers 100% of tuition for eligible undergraduates. The university offers the following types of scholarships for students:

Cornell Grants and Scholarships

The Cornell scholarships and grants are considered need-based financial assistance that aren’t required to be repaid. These types of university scholarships are also known as gift aid. To be eligible for these scholarships, students need to provide a CSS Profile and FAFSA form.

Federal Grants

The Department of Education in the US provides financial assistance in the form of federal grants for students. It provides support for those who pursue a four-year degree at various colleges or universities in the USA. Moreover, this type of financial assistance isn’t required to be repaid like student loans.

New York State Grants and Scholarships

The state of New York offers various types of financial aid for undergraduates through the NY (HESC). Students are not required to repay the amount received through this grant. Moreover, they should fill out the federal FAFSA form to be eligible for state grants in New York.

Outside Scholarships

Students at Cornell can also get financial assistance from outside organizations like the following:

• Religious institutions
• Civic service
• Foundations
• Corporations

These scholarships are different from Cornell, state, and federal scholarships. They have different criteria, including academic, special talents, interests, and more.

Work-Study

It is considered need-based financial assistance that is considered self-help. This requires students to work part-time with their studies to cover their tuition expenses. Cornell provides around $5,000 in work-study funds for eligible students.

Loans

Student loans are considered self-help financial aid that needs to be repaid. Parents and students can get education loans through the Department of Education, Cornell, and private banks or lenders.

However, the eligibility requirements and borrowing limits might vary according to where the loan is borrowed from. The university focuses on decreasing debt for its students and guides them regarding authentic borrowing options.

Veterans Education Benefits

The veteran benefits are offered to military service members, veterans, dependents, and family members. However, eligibility for this type of aid is evaluated by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the US. Moreover, families who are linked with the military can apply for aid without meeting eligibility.

Emergency Aid

This type of financial assistance helps the already enrolled students when they face urgent expenses. Such expenses are not included in the estimated cost of attendance by the university.

How to apply for Cornell University scholarships and financial assistance?

According to Cornell University’s policy, applicants are eligible whose annual family income is around $100,000. The university provides various tuition fee and other expense waivers.

Learn about the eligibility criteria for different students at Cornell.

Scholarships for domestic students

First-year or transfer applicants should meet the following requirements to qualify for Cornell scholarships:

• Complete the CSS Profile by using code 2098.
• Fill out the FAFSA form by using the code 002711.
• Submit the required document through the IDOC portal.
• Check your personalized Cornell aid estimation to review the updated cost of attendance, family or student contribution, and more.
• Check your email after Cornell review to submit any information or additional documents.
• Receive and review the Cornell Aid Offer.

Scholarships for international students

The following is a list of the eligibility requirements for international students’ financial aid provided by Cornell:

• Use the code 2098 to submit the CSS Profile.
• Upload the signed document copies to the IDOC dashboard and complete the process. (Don’t include unnecessary documents.)
• Review the Cornell Aid offer, which includes updated family contribution, cost of attendance, and eligibility for financial assistance.

Scholarships for graduate students

To get the need-based aid from Cornell to study at the graduate level, one must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Around 99% of the PHD students at Cornell receive fully funded scholarships through external fellowships, teaching assistantships, and more. The eligibility varies according to the program and the relevant school.
• The other master’s, research, professional, and executive degrees have varied requirements for eligibility.
• US students can complete the FAFSA form to become eligible for federal-level student loans and grants. Students are required to provide their income statements, parents’ income statements, tax returns, and W-2 forms.

Note: US students include those who are US citizens, have dual citizenship, and some eligible non-citizens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What GPA is required for Cornell?

The university didn’t include a cutoff GPA in its eligibility criteria. Moreover, there is no proper confirmation of the average GPA scored by admitted students. This makes it difficult to confirm the exact Cornell University GPA requirements.

However, according to QS, the university requires students to have a 3.2+ GPA to meet the eligibility criteria. Moreover, Cornell gives importance to GPA but also considers the following elements more important:

1. Application essays
2. Extracurricular activities
3. Rigor of secondary school record
4. Recommendations
5. Talent and personal qualities

Q. Is Cornell University as prestigious as Harvard University?

Even though Harvard University is recognized as the most prestigious university, Cornell still ranks for engineering and architecture fields. Moreover, it is the only Ivy League school that is famous for its land-grant status.

The purpose of this institution is to change lives and employment opportunities through research, teaching, and public service. Moreover, this Ivy League school also focuses on refining its students’ knowledge through world-class opportunities that make an impact.

Additionally, according to the QS World University Rankings, Harvard University achieved the 5th rank. Meanwhile, Cornell University’s ranking is 16. This makes Harvard more prestigious than Cornell.

Q. Can I get into Cornell with a 1440 SAT?

Yes, the SAT requirements for Cornell include a 1390+ SAT score, according to QS. If you’re interested in taking the SAT exam to get admission to Cornell, use the code 2098.