Cornell College

Cornell College
600 First St SW
Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314
800-747-1112
Website: https://www.cornellcollege.edu
Year Founded: 1853
President: Jonathan Brand
Enrollment: Over 1,000 students
Cornell College

Cornell College, a selective liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is recognized as one of the “Colleges That Change Lives.” Cornell is characterized by the immersion of its One Course At A Time curriculum, which allows students to focus on a single academic subject for an 18-day block. Since professors only teach one block at a time, students have more access to professors, and professors can teach students off-campus in whatever venue best fits the material. There are no slow intros, far-off exams or papers, or gaps between class sessions, mirroring the pace of working environments where employees are expected to handle tight deadlines and high expectations. With a student body from 47 states and 13 foreign countries, and renowned visiting speakers, faculty, and entertainers, Cornell offers the world from its hilltop campus.


Distinctive Facts & Features
  • Cornell College’s One Course At A Time curriculum takes a distinctive approach to a liberal arts education by offering life-changing immersion in a single academic subject per academic block.
  • Cornell’s STEM space doubled with the opening of Russell Science Center back in 2018, along with West Science Hall being completely renovated.
  • 99% of the Class of 2019 completed their degree in four years.
  • Cornell’s entire campus is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Student Profile
  • Male: 52% 
  • Female: 46% 
  • Undeclared gender: 2%
  • In-state Students: 24% 
  • Out-of-State Students: 76%          
  • States represented: 45                   
  • Foreign countries represented: 13                 
  • Domestic students of color: 20%
Most Popular Majors
  • Kinesiology-Exercise Science
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Psychology-Specialist
  • Computer Science
  • English and Creative Writing
  • Business Finance
  • Secondary Education Certification
  • History
  • Biology
  • Politics
Cost
  • Tuition: $43,976                
  • Room & Board: $9,760                  
Financial Aid Data
  • 99.5% of students receive financial assistance.
  • Cornell’s financial aid budget for 2019-20 is $27.2 million.
Class Size
  • Faculty-student ratio: 1:12                 
  • Average class size: 14
  • All classes capped at 25 students
Faculty
  • 74 full-time faculty          
  • 99% of faculty hold a doctorate or terminal degree 
Athletics and Intramural Activities
  • NCAA Division III
  • Intercollegiate teams: 19
  • 37% of students participate in intercollegiate athletics
Co-curricular Activities
  • Cornell has nearly 100 clubs and group involvement opportunities, including student organizations, local Greek organizations; academic honor societies, and intramural teams.        
  • Cornell’s Mock Trial program, established in 2006, has qualified for the national championship tournament eight times, competing against large state schools and Ivy League universities.        


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