Cornell has released its admissions data for the Class of 2024, revealing a 10.7 percent acceptance rate and a class size slightly larger than last year’s, despite fears of lower enrollment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The University released accepted student data about five months after the admissions cycle ended — this is the first time Cornell has withheld this information until late summer to avoid discouraging potential applicants with admissions statistics.
Cornell received 51,500 applications for the Class of 2024, about 2,000 more than last year. The acceptance rate decreased 0.2 percent from the Class of 2023’s 10.9 percent admit rate. Cornell’s admit rate stands apart from most other Ivy League colleges that reported slightly higher acceptance rates for their incoming classes.
This year’s enrollment reflects a slight decrease in international students and students from the Midwest, both falling by less than one percent. However, incoming students are citizens of nine more countries than students from the Class of 2023. Students from other geographic regions enrolled at a similar rate to last year.
The percentage of first generation students increased by 2.1 percent from last year’s incoming class, comprising 15.5 percent of their class. Students of color make up 51.7 percent of the Class of 2024, a 3.2 percent increase from last year, and underrepresented minority students represent 26.9 percent of the incoming class, a jump of 1.3 percent from the Class of 2023.
The Class of 2024 has students from 48 states as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. No incoming students come from Arkansas or North Dakota.
The fall 2020 transfer cohort has 134 more students than last year. The percentage of women in the transfer cohort decreased by about 8 percent, and the percentage of international transfers decreased by nearly 2 percent.
“Coronavirus is a challenge, and this incoming Class of 2024 reminds us that Cornell students embody ingenuity and fortitude,” Jonathan Burdick, vice provost for enrollment, said in a press release. “This talented entering class, my first, has been flexible and understanding in every way, and these students are not going to let anything hold them back.”
Class of 2025 Profile
As of Aug. 22, 2022 |
Related Story The Class of 2025 has the strongest academic numbers and the most racial diversity in the school’s history. The 315 students come from 38 states and the District of Columbia, and attended 131 undergraduate institutions. Students come from 38 states and the District of Columbia. The J.D. candidates also include citizens of China, India, South Korea, Egypt, Australia, the Czech Republic, Peru and
Hungary. In addition to Virginia, the following states are represented by five or more students: Members of the Class of 2025 come from 131 undergraduate schools. Schools with four or more first-years represented include: Class of 2024 Profile
Geographic Representation
California
33
Washington, D.C.
9
Texas
20
Maryland
7
New York
19
Massachusetts
7
New Jersey
14
Louisiana
6
Illinois
12
South Carolina
6
Pennsylvania
12
Arizona
5
Florida
11
Connecticut
5
Georgia
11
Tennessee
5
North Carolina
10
Where They Went to College University of Virginia
22
George Washington University
6
University of Texas, Austin
9
University of Chicago
6
Cornell University
8
University of Maryland, College Park
6
Georgetown University
8
Colgate University
5
College of William & Mary
7
University of Notre Dame
5
UCLA
7
Washington University
5
University of California, Berkeley
7
American University
4
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
7
Tulane University
4
Boston College
6
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
4
Duke University
6
University of Oklahoma
4
Emory University
6
Vanderbilt University
4
George Mason University
6
Wake Forest University
4
GRACE WENSTROM, of Galesburg, Illinois, graduated from the University of Iowa and interned full time at the U.S. Justice Department and legal services groups before law school.
“Even as an incoming student, I had the opportunity to read a faculty-written book on oral advocacy, hear from current students about clinical experiences and connect with career development staff,” she said. “I greatly appreciated this concurrent flow of academic and professional resources, and knew it was indicative of a robust program.”
Denver native RAHUL RAMESH placed in national debate tournaments as a University of California, Berkeley, student before beginning his studies at UVA.
“From the moment I stepped onto Grounds, it was abundantly clear how kind and passionate the students are as well as how invested the faculty is in your success,” Ramesh said. “From talking to other UVA Law students, professors really want to engage with their students, hear their stories, and learn their ambitions.”
Hampton, Virginia, native AVIAÉ GIBSON graduated from UVA’s undergraduate school.
“As someone who loves to engage in hands-on learning, I was thrilled to learn that many clinics offer the opportunity for 1Ls to volunteer and be involved,” she said. Gibson added that she was impressed by how “faculty are invested in their students’ success and readily make themselves available.”