Cornell College - Admission Requirements, SAT, ACT, GPA and chance of acceptance

Your chances of getting into Cornell College

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted

80.7%

Admission Difficulty for Cornell College
Measure	Difficulty
Admission Standards		Difficult
Applicant Competition		Very Low

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Cornell College is 80.7%. Its admission rate is the 17th lowest in Iowa.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Cornell College and can you get accepted?

Cornell College is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 2,490 out of the 3,087 who applied were admitted.

Cornell College typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.53. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class. 12% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Cornell College?

81% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Cornell College you should:

Have a high school GPA of 3.53 or better
Earn B+ grades in high school
Score 1230 on the SAT
Score 26 on the ACT
Graduate in the top half of your high school class

Cornell College GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA

3.53

Typical High School Grades

B+

What GPA do you need to get into Cornell College?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Cornell College are to have around a 3.53 high school GPA. You are required to have very good grades in high school.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.53 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as Cornell College accepts 81% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Cornell College is 3.53 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school. The school ranks #12 in Iowa for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Cornell College is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.5 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

High School GPA's for admitted Cornell College students
High School GPA	Freshmen Within Range	Competitiveness
4.0	19.67%	Good
3.75 to 3.99	20.77%	Avg +
3.50 to 3.74	18.31%	Avg -
3.25 to 3.49	16.21%	Avg -
3.00 to 3.24	12.02%	Reach
2.50 to 2.99	13.11%	Low
2.00 to 2.49	0%	Low
1.00 to 1.99	0%	Low
less than 1.00	0%	Low

What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024

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Cornell College SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Cornell College. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 9% of students submitted SAT scores and 28% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range

1150-1318

Applicants Submitting SAT

SAT Scores for Cornell College
SAT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	580
Math 25th Percentile	570
Composite 25th Percentile	1150

SAT Scores for Cornell College
SAT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	655
Math 75th Percentile	663
Composite 75th Percentile	1318
Average SAT Score	1230

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Cornell College?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Cornell College is 1230 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1150-1318. Students who get into Cornell College score in the top 32 percent of all SAT test takers.. Cornell College ranks #3 in the state of Iowa for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1230 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Cornell College regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1150 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1150, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1070, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Cornell College is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1230 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1234, you have around a 81% chance of being admitted. A 1318 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 89% chance of getting in.

Cornell College admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1318 and Above	Good	>89%
1234 to 1318	Avg +	81%-89%
1150 to 1234	Avg -	69%-81%
1066 to 1150	Reach	54%-69%
Less than 1066	Low	<54%

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Cornell College ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range

23-30

Applicants Submitting ACT

28%

ACT Scores for Cornell College
ACT Test	25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile	23
Math 25th Percentile	23
Composite 25th Percentile	23

ACT Scores for Cornell College
ACT Test	75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile	31
Math 75th Percentile	28
Composite 75th Percentile	30
Average ACT Score	26

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Cornell College?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Cornell College is 26, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 23 and 30. The school ranks #3 in Iowa for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 26. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 23 and score in the score in the top 32 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 20.

28 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Cornell College.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Cornell College is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Cornell College for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 26 score has around 81% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 90% with a 30 ACT score.

Cornell College admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
30 and Above	Good	>90%
26 to 30	Avg +	81%-90%
23 to 26	Avg -	71%-81%
20 to 23	Reach	59%-71%
Less than 20	Low	<59%

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High School Class Rank

76% of Cornell College freshman are in the top half of their high school graduating class and 40% are in the top quarter.

High School Class Rank for admitted Cornell College students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	17.06%
Top 25% of class	40%
Top 50% of class	76%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Cornell College admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	1,460	1,534	3,087
Accepted	1,205	1,204	2,490
Acceptance Rate	83%	78%	81%
Enrolled	113	170	298
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	9%	14%	12%

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2023 starting class

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Cornell College is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Cornell College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Cornell College Application Requirements
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Cornell College
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	Yes
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Cornell College is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.53 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1230 and ACT of 26 will almost guarantee your admission.