collageCornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, which houses the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, has proven to firmly be a top-10 school as it has placed in the top-10 each year it’s participated in the Poets&Quants rankings. This year, Cornell’s ninth-place finish was due to finishing eighth overall in career outcomes and ninth in the admissions standards. Cornell is one of just two Ivy League schools that offers an undergraduate business degree.
According to responses in the alumni survey as a portion of the rankings methodology, Cornell’s most popular aspects of an undergraduate business education include its experiential and international components.
“I worked on a consulting project in South Africa with a group of my business school peers,” one 2018 graduate told us in the alumni survey. “We helped a minority-owned winery in scaling her business. The experience was unique because it allowed me to work on a business project in a new continent for me, and understand the obstacles a minority business owner faces.”
The school says its unique aspect is a focus on soft skills to go along with more traditional business skills.
“Dyson students gain excellent analytical business skills but also develop the self-insight, flexibility, and empathy to enable them to chart a productive course in a rapidly changing world,” the school said in the school survey portion of the ranking. “This is fundamental to Dyson’s mission for undergraduate education. Not content with providing a strong pathway to a student’s coveted first job, we strive to educate for the long haul: our graduates can only make a better world if they are confident and creative about their own place in that world.”
UNIQUE CONVERGENCE WITH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
All Cornell business students must complete a group of core courses, a set of liberal arts courses, and pick at least one of 13 concentrations. An aspect that sets Dyson’s curriculum apart from others is it is technically a part of both the College of Business and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
“Because of the Dyson School’s location in both Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, students can easily combine their major with a concentration or double major in the life sciences, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, or applied social sciences,” the school said in this year’s rankings survey. “Dyson
students also commonly major or minor in a biological science, information science, communication, environmental and sustainability sciences, biometry and statistics, animal science, or food science. Such unbounded exposure keeps Dyson School students one-step
ahead of the competition by preparing them to lead in a future where the sciences, social sciences, and the arts will increasingly converge.”
An example of this unique convergence is the Food Marketing Fellows honors program.
“Dyson has so many opportunities for experiential learning. I participated in the Food Marketing Fellows program that entailed visits to different businesses to learn from the owners/managers how their business works,” one 2018 alum said in the alumni survey. “The program concludes with an international trip to learn about the food industry in a foreign country. From this program, one broadens their perspective by analyzing the food industries of two different countries.”
STRONG ALUMNI RESPONSES AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
Cornell graduates enjoy very strong employment outcomes and seem to be generally pleased with their experience. Of the more than dozen scaled one-to-10 questions we ask alumni each year, Cornell was one of just 10 schools that had an overall average of above 9. What’s more, nearly 92% of 2018 graduates responding to the survey said their first job after graduation was in a desired industry and at a desired company. Only two other schools of the 93 ranked had a higher percentage.
Some 96.9% of 2020 Cornell business graduates had a business-focused internship before graduating. And just over 93% had secured full-time employment within three months of graduation. Of those with full-time employment, the average starting salary was $76,827. Only six of the 93 ranked schools had alumni earning a higher average starting salary. JPMorgan Chase and Citi were the top-two hiring firms for 2020 graduates.
Cornell’s undergraduate business education is truly a unique experience. For students able to gain admission — this year’s acceptance rate was 7.96%, the lowest rate besides the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School at 7.62% — Cornell’s stature with Wharton as the two Ivy League undergraduate business programs is obviously an incredible opportunity. Combine that with the focus on environmental sciences, food, and agriculture, the degree at Dyson is truly one-of-a-kind.
As you consider the options before you, we encourage you to take a closer look at our school by connecting with an ambassador or admissions counselor or taking part in our events for admitted students.
Whether this is your first time interacting with us, or you’re already wearing Cornell RED, we hope that we can show you more about what your life will be like on the hill.
Virtual Events
Throughout the month of April, the Dyson School will be hosting multiple virtual events to help you learn more about our school, meet current students, and make sure that Dyson is a good fit for you.
Student Services and Career Services Virtual Panel: Do you want learn more about the professional support we offer for Dyson students? Sign up to attend a panel to Zoom with our Student Services and Career services teams, who are ready to answer your questions. Monday, April 12, at 6:30pm ET.
Zoom into a class with future Dyson classmates: AEM 2700: Management Communication is a required class for all Dyson students. Attend a “mock” class open ONLY to newly admitted students where you can listen and participate with your future classmates. Tuesday, April 13 at 3:30pm ET.
Open Office Hours: Zoom in to meet with members of the student support teams, ambassadors, and admissions staff. We are ready to answer your questions. Please review available times during the week of April 26.
Important links for admitted students
The following links will help you navigate the university. It will help you find important information as well as next steps before you deposit and ensure your place in our Class of 2025!
- New Student Checklist
- CUontheHill – social network for admitted first-year students
- The Office of Financial Aid
- Student and Campus Life – Housing, dining, health and wellness, and more
About Cornell University Admissions
Cornell University, a private research university located in Ithaca, New York, was founded in 1856. It is currently ranked #18 in the U.S. News and World Report ranking of National Universities and boasts an undergraduate enrollment of 15,182, including students from over 140 countries. Cornell is a member of the Ivy League and is situated on a rural, 745-acre campus.
Applicants to Cornell must select one of the undergraduate colleges in which they hope to enroll. The most popular of these colleges, each of which provide their own faculty and admit their own students, are the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is the second largest undergraduate college at Cornell. Its students focus on research in food & energy systems, life sciences, environmental sciences, and social sciences. CALS students choose from over 20 majors and more than 25 minors, many of which are interdisciplinary.
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) was established in 1871 by Andrew Dickson White, the first president of Cornell University to provide academic training in architecture. It consists of 55 faculty members, 276 graduate students, and 507 undergraduates. The mission of the college is to “teach and practice architecture, fine arts, and city and regional planning as creative and powerful forces with the potential to improve the world.” For undergraduates, AAP’s Department of Architecture offers a five-year program that culminates in a bachelor of architecture (B.Arch.) degree.
College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences, the liberal arts college at Cornell, is the largest and most popular of the seven colleges. There are 40 majors and 59 minors offered, in addition to more than 50 foreign languages. Students are welcome to double major within the College of Arts and Sciences or minor in one of Cornell’s other colleges. The top 10 most popular majors, in alphabetical order, are Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Economics, English, Government, History, Information Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business unites the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Managements, the School of Hotel Administration (SHA) and the Johnson School of Business. Undergraduates may choose from two business programs: a BS in applied economics & management through the Dyson School, or a BS in Hotel Administration from the School of Hotel Administration.
College of Engineering
Cornell’s College of Engineering is both the largest and highest ranked engineering program in the Ivy League. It offers 14 majors and 20 minors in addition to 29 student-led project teams. Every year, approximately 780 first-year students are admitted to this undergraduate program. Notably, 53% of the Class of 2022 was female, as is 50% of the College of Engineering overall. Prospective applicants to Cornell Engineering must complete 4 units of math (including calculus), 1 unit of physics, and 1 unit of chemistry before high school graduation. It is also recommended that applicants complete computer science and 1 unit of biology.
College of Human Ecology
The College of Human Ecology offers undergraduate programs that combine career-oriented skills with a liberal arts curriculum. These programs include: Design + Environmental Analysis, Fashion Design and Management, Fiber Science, Global and Public Health Sciences, Health Care Policy, and Human Biology, Health, and Society, Human Development, Nutritional Sciences, and Policy Analysis and Management. Students are also encouraged to participate in independent research, directed studies, internships, and off-campus study programs.
School of Industrial and Labor Relations
The School of Industrial and Labor Relations (IRL) was established in 1945 and offers an interdisciplinary major for undergraduates that combines business, economics, government, history, international relations, labor relations, law, public policy, and social justice. The flexible curriculum includes required introductory courses on topics such as organizational psychology, economics, labor history, statistics, management, and law. Students then tailor the curriculum to their individual interests and select advanced electives, complemented by research, internship, and study abroad opportunities.
Applying to Cornell
For students who know Cornell is their first choice, there is a binding early decision plan available with a November 1 application deadline. Students are then notified in mid-December. Cornell uses the Common Application or the Universal College Application, both of which are completed and submitted online.
You must also submit a school report, official transcript, counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations, standardized test scores, an application fee, and a midyear report, if applicable.
Students applying to the architecture program or the School of Hotel Administration are required to participate in a formal interview as part of the admissions process. For applicants to other programs, there are no interviews.
Cornell’s mandatory Writing Supplement asks applicants to provide a detailed explanation of their academic goals and intended areas of study. This question differs slightly by school:
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours?
College of Arts and Sciences: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College.
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management: The Dyson School is unique by design. What motivates you to apply to Dyson and where do you plan to go from here?
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: School of Hotel Administration (SHA): How have your interests and experiences influenced your decision to apply to the School of Hotel Administration? How does this decision relate to your future plans and aspirations?
College of Engineering: Tell us about your interest in engineering or what you hope to achieve with a degree in engineering. Describe what appeals to you about Cornell Engineering and how it specifically relates to your engineering interest or aspirations.
College of Human Ecology: How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology been influenced by your related experiences? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future?
School of Industrial and Labor Relations: Tell us about your intellectual interests, how they sprung from your course, service, work or life experiences, and what makes them exciting to you. Describe how ILR is the right school for you to pursue these interests.
Cornell Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025
There were 51,500 applications submitted for a place in the 2020-21 freshman class; just 5,514 were accepted. This acceptance rate of 9.9% was the first time Cornell inched into the single-digits. The Class of 2025 saw the admit rate decline to roughly 9%, although precise numbers have yet to be released. We do know that there were 5,836 students admitted out of more than 67,000 applicants.
Cornell: Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2024
Cornell has not yet released their ED acceptance data from the 2020-21 admissions cycle. For the entering Class of 2024, there were 6,630 early decision applicants, 1,594 of whom were accepted. This works out to a 24% acceptance rate. This was a higher rate of success than the 22.6% figure encountered by the Class of 2023. There were 6,159 ED applicants for the Class of 2023.
Cornell Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank
According to the most recent statistics available (Class of 2024), the mid-50% SAT range for enrolled freshman was 1410-1530; on the ACT the range was 32-35. Eighty-four percent had earned a place in the top 10% of their graduating high school class and 98% landed in the top 25%.
Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 20024 & 2025)
- 14.8% of the Class of 2024 are legacy students.
- 64.2% of the Class of 2024 attended public schools.
- The proportion of admitted Class of 2025 members who self-identify as underrepresented minorities increased to 34.2% from 33.7% last year, and 59.3% self-identify as students of color.
- Admitted members of the Class of 2025 come from 49 U.S. states (only Wyoming is not represented) plus Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, as well as 87 countries outside the United States.
- 1,163 will be first-generation college students, an increase over last year’s 844.
- The number of applicants increased from 51,500 to 67,000+ this past cycle.
- The approximately 9% acceptance rate in the 2020-21 admissions year is the lowest in school history.
How Cornell Rates Applicants
Unlike many other ultra-selective institutions, undergraduate applications to Cornell are not reviewed from a central admissions office. Rather, they are funneled to the specific college within the university that a particular student has applied to. From there, applications undergo a “first review” which looks at whether or not the applicant possesses the minimum academic credentials for serious consideration. Typically, around 80% of applicants make it through the “first review.”
In the next round of review, admissions officers look the rigor of an applicant’s high school coursework and carefully read their supplemental essay about their interest in studying a given discipline at Cornell (more on this later). They also want to see evidence of a desire to become passionately committed to the Cornell student community. This can best be demonstrated through extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendation letters.
Cornell is not going to be impressed that you filled the ten spaces on the Common App Activity List; they are looking for genuine excellence in one or more activities. For example, you won a prestigious national physics competition, you are one of the top violinists in the United States, you published original scientific research, or were the president of a service organization that made a monumental impact. It definitely helps if you are recruited as an athlete to join one of Big Red’s 36 Division I sports teams. In the Class of 2024, 6.5% of incoming students are designated as “recruited athletes.”
In sum, there are eight factors that Cornell ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, GPA, standardized test scores, the essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, and character/personal qualities. Standing out in all of these areas definitely increases your chances at gaining acceptance to this Ivy League institution.
Who Actually Gets Into Cornell?
Let’s look at the demographics of the Class of 2024.
Geographically, the Class of 2024 was comprised of students from:
- International: 10.2%
- Mid-Atlantic States: 17.6%
- Southeastern States: 6.4%
- Western States: 11.6%
- Midwestern States: 6.4%
- New England States: 9.7%
- Southwestern States: 4.8%
- New York: 33.6%
Competition is stiffest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast, including New York, & the West Coast). If you hail from a less populated state like Nebraska, South Dakota, or Alaska, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances.
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown was as follows (note: these do not add up to 100% as students could list multiple ethnicities):
- White: 51.9%
- Asian American: 29.2%
- Hispanic: 17.8%
- African American: 12%
- American Indian: 2%
A further look reveals that 26.9% of the Cornell Class of 2024 identifies as an under-represented minority. Overall, 51.7% identify as a student of color.
The breakdown by gender is notably split in favor of women:
- Male: 46%
- Female: 54%
Cornell’s Yield Rate
Cornell’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted was 59% for the Class of 2024. This number is over 20 points lower than Harvard but higher than many other selective universities. For comparison, elite schools such as Caltech, UCLA, Washington University in St. Louis, UVA, and USC all have yield rates under 50%.
Tips for Applying to Cornell
If you plan on joining the almost 67,000 Big Red hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- Cornell has again suspended their SAT/ACT test requirements for 2022 first-year applicants.
- Cornell only schedules formal, evaluative interviews for applicants to the Architecture or Hotel Administration programs. Informational interviews can be arranged with local Cornell alumni who meet with 21,000 additional applicants each year. For advice on what types of questions you should be prepared to answer/ask, visit our blog—College Interview Tips.
- Cornell does not consider “demonstrated interest” so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
- Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essay required by Cornell. In the 2020-21 cycle, they were as follows:
College Interest Essays
In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, please respond to the essay question below (maximum of 650 words) that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours?
College of Arts and Sciences: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College.
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: What kind of a business student are you? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College.
College of Engineering: Tell us about what excites you most about Cornell Engineering and/or studying engineering at Cornell University. How do you see yourself becoming a part of the Cornell Engineering community?
College of Human Ecology: How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology been influenced by your related experiences? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future?
School of Industrial and Labor Relations: Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School.
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