University Facts

Cornell by the numbers.

Cornell Firsts

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The solution to the Poincaré Conjecture, one of the most famous problems in mathematics, was first posted on Cornell's arXiv.org.
old books
Cornell endowed the nation's first professorships in American history, musicology, and American literature.
Historical photo of men standing by cars with '14th Annual Hotel Ezra Cornell May 12' painted on one car grid
Cornell established the first four-year schools of hotel administration and industrial and labor relations.
Cornell diploma seal
Cornell awarded the world's first degree in journalism, the nation's first degree in veterinary medicine, and the first doctorates in electrical and industrial engineering.
Vintage war poster reads YOU help my boy win the war, buy a liberty bond
Cornell was the first U.S. university to offer a major in American studies.
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The first university to teach modern Far Eastern languages, Cornell’s Department of Asian Studies today teaches 19 classical and modern Asian languages.

Statistics

Overview

Founded 1865 By Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White.
Opened 1868 Morrill Hall was the first building constructed on the main Ithaca campus, which today includes 608 buildings on more than 2000 acres.
Identity Private university, public mission Cornell is the federal land-grant institution of New York State, a private endowed university, a member of the Ivy League/Ancient Eight, and a partner of the State University of New York. It has been described as the first truly American university because of its founders' revolutionarily egalitarian and practical vision of higher education, and is dedicated to its land-grant mission of outreach and public service.
Colleges and schools 15 Eight undergraduate units and four graduate and professional units in Ithaca, two medical graduate and professional units in New York City, and one in Doha, Qatar. The Cornell Tech campus in New York City is the latest addition.

Faculty and Staff, Fall 2020

Faculty 1,695
Academic Professionals 1,129
Staff 7,420

Regular and part-time faculty and employees. Staff include non-professorial academic employees (instruction, research, extension, and library) and non academic employees. Ithaca campus only (includes Cornell Tech).

Student Enrollment, Fall 2020
Undergraduate 14,743
Graduate 6,239
Professional 2,638
Total university 23,620

Student enrollment include all on-campus and off campus registrants and participants in employee degree programs. Students registered as in absentia are not included. Ithaca campus only (includes Cornell Tech). "Professional" schools are Law, Johnson School of Management and the Veterinary School.

Student Gender, Ethnicity and Citizenship, Fall 2020
  Female Male Minority International
Undergraduates 54% 46% 48% 10%
Graduate 47% 53% 20% 47%
Professional 47% 53% 25% 30%

"Minority" includes Asian, Black, Hispanic, American Indian and multi-racial students who are U.S. citizens or legal residents. Ithaca campus only (includes Cornell Tech).

Student Region of Origin, Fall 2020
New York State 27%
Middle States 12%
New England 7%
Midwest 6%
South 8%
Southwest 3%
West 11%
Territories <1%
USA, unknown 2%
International 22%

Includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Ithaca campus only (includes Cornell Tech). Student home region at time of matriculation. "Middle States" region includes Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Washington D.C.

Degrees Conferred, 2018–2019
Bachelor's degrees 3,796
Master's degrees 2,778
PhD, JSD and DMA 531
D.V.M. 97
J.D. 194
Total university 7,396

Degrees granted from July 1 - to June 30th. Ithaca and Roosevelt Island (Cornell Tech) campuses only. Data as of 7/25/2019