Cornell College — acceptance rate 81%, tuition $49,970Cornell College campus, Mount Vernon, IA. Photo: ArtisticAbode, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B+
78/100
Affordability
F
16/100
Resources
C+
56/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
D
34/100
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
1,084
Total Enrollment
72%
Graduation Rate
74%
Retention Rate
12.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
81%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Cornell College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$53,460
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$39,299
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$27,000
Median debt at graduation
61.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,234
Average SAT
27
Median ACT
32.1%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 51% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 54th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Cornell College
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
For parents & investors
The Cornell College Town Property Report
Avg home value near campus: $356,878
Avg rent near campus: $900/mo — vs ~$574/mo campus room rate
Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 52401 (8.2% cap, Cedar Rapids)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield,
and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.
✓ Sent — check your inbox
Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
🏆 Where Cornell College Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Cornell College has an acceptance rate of 81%.
This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Cornell College?
Tuition at Cornell College is
$49,970 for in-state students
and $49,970 for out-of-state students
.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell College?
The graduation rate at Cornell College is 72%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Cornell College a good school?
Cornell College has a Repit College Score of 55/100 (Grade: C+).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Cornell College?
Cornell College has a total enrollment of 1,084 students.
Most students (98%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Cornell College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Cornell College
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.