If you’re staring at a blank Common App essay and wondering if your 1520 SAT score is actually "good enough" for Ithaca, you’re looking for the Cornell Common Data Set.
Most people don’t even know this document exists. They spend hours on Reddit or CollegeConfidential listening to some guy named "IvyBound2027" tell them they need a 4.0 and three Olympic medals to get in. Honestly? That’s mostly noise. The Common Data Set (CDS) is the raw, unpolished truth. It’s the same standardized report that Cornell—and every other major university—fills out every year to keep things transparent for the Department of Education and various ranking publishers.
It’s dense. It’s a massive PDF full of tiny numbers. But if you know where to look, it tells you exactly what the Cornell admissions officers are prioritizing behind those closed doors in Day Hall.
What is the Cornell Common Data Set anyway?
Basically, the CDS is a collaborative effort between higher education bigwigs like the College Board, Peterson’s, and U.S. News & World Report. They wanted a way to compare apples to apples. Before this, every school reported data differently, which made ranking them a total nightmare.
Cornell’s version is particularly interesting because Cornell is a bit of a "land-grant" paradox. It’s a private Ivy League school, but some of its colleges are state-contracted. This weird hybrid identity shows up in the numbers. You’ll see data broken down by enrollment, financial aid, and, most importantly for you, the "Basis for Selection."
The "Academic Rigor" Trap
Everyone says grades matter. Duh. But the Cornell Common Data Set actually ranks how much they matter compared to other factors.
In Section C7, Cornell lists different criteria and labels them as "Very Important," "Important," "Considered," or "Not Considered." For most years, Cornell marks "Rigor of secondary school record" and "GPA" as Very Important.
Here’s the kicker: they also usually mark "Character/Personal Qualities" as Very Important.
That’s huge. It means your personality and your "vibe" on paper carry as much weight as your ability to crush AP Calc. If you have a 4.0 but your essays sound like a ChatGPT prompt, you’re in trouble. Conversely, if your GPA is a bit lower (maybe a 3.8) but your character references and essays are glowing, the CDS suggests you’re still very much in the running. They aren’t just looking for robots.
They also note that "Class Rank" is often just "Recommended" or "Considered," depending on the year. Many high schools don't even rank anymore, and Cornell has adapted to that. They care more about the types of classes you took than whether you were number 4 or number 12 in your graduating class.
The Standardized Testing Reality Check
Let’s talk about the SAT and ACT. Cornell has been experimenting with "test-free" and "test-optional" policies for different colleges within the university (like the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences versus the College of Engineering).
When you dig into the Cornell Common Data Set, specifically the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 cycles, you see the 25th and 75th percentile scores.
If you see a 75th percentile SAT Math score of 800, that’s not Cornell being "mean." It’s just the reality that 25% of their admitted class (who submitted scores) literally got a perfect score. If you’re applying to Engineering with a 700 Math score, the CDS is basically whispering to you: "Maybe go test-optional if you can, or retake it."
Wait, can we talk about the waitlist for a second?
The waitlist data in the CDS is brutal. It’s tucked away in Section C2. Some years, Cornell might put 7,000 students on the waitlist, and only 100 or 200 get off. Other years? Zero. It’s a bit of a "lottery within a lottery." Looking at the most recent CDS helps you manage expectations. If the previous year saw 0 people admitted from the waitlist, don't buy your "Big Red" sweatshirt just yet if you get that "Waitlisted" notification in March.
Financial Aid and the "Need-Blind" Promise
Cornell is need-blind for domestic students. That sounds great, right? It is. But the CDS shows the scale of it. Section H reveals the staggering amount of institutional non-need-based-gift aid (merit scholarships).
Actually, here’s a secret: Cornell doesn’t really do "merit" scholarships in the way a state school does. Most of their money is need-based. The Cornell Common Data Set shows that the average financial aid package is massive, often covering a huge chunk of the $80,000+ sticker price.
But for international students? The CDS usually clarifies that they are not need-blind. If you’re applying from overseas and you need a full ride, you’re competing for a much smaller slice of the pie. The numbers don't lie. The "financial need" box is often checked as a "Considered" factor for international applicants.
Demographics and Geographics: The "Where" Matters
Cornell loves its New York roots. Because parts of the school are land-grant (like Dyson or Human Ecology), they have a specific mission to serve New York State residents.
If you look at the enrollment sections, you’ll see a healthy chunk of the student body comes from the Empire State. But they also want "geographic diversity." If you’re applying from North Dakota or Wyoming, you might have a slight "hook" simply because there are fewer applicants from those regions. The CDS breaks down the total number of students by state and country, which is a goldmine for understanding where the competition is stiffest.
Why 2026 Applicants Need to Look at "Section C"
Section C is the "Admissions" section. It’s the heart of the document. It lists how many men and women applied, how many were admitted, and how many actually enrolled (that’s called the "yield").
If 70,000 people apply and only 5,000 get in, that’s a roughly 7% acceptance rate. But that 7% is an average. The CDS doesn't always break it down by individual college (like Art, Architecture, and Planning vs. Arts and Sciences), but it gives you the "Total" landscape.
One thing people always miss: Demonstrated Interest.
Many elite schools (like Harvard or Yale) say they don't care if you visit or email a professor. They mark it as "Not Considered." Cornell, traditionally, has also marked "Level of Applicant's Interest" as Not Considered.
This is huge! It means you don't need to spend $2,000 flying to Ithaca just to "show" them you want to go there. If the CDS says it's not considered, save your money. Spend that time on your "Why Cornell" essay instead. That essay is considered because it falls under "Application Essay," which is Very Important.
How to use this to your advantage
Don't just read the numbers and panic. Use them to calibrate.
If you’re a 1450 SAT student applying to a program where the 25th percentile is 1510, you know you need to make your "Personal Qualities" and "Extracurriculars" (both usually marked Important or Very Important) absolutely sing. You are fighting an uphill battle on the stats, so you have to over-deliver on the soul of the application.
Also, check the faculty-to-student ratio in Section I. Cornell often boasts about a 9:1 ratio. This tells you about the culture you're applying to. It’s not just a giant degree factory; they have the staff to support small-scale learning, even if the introductory Bio class has 500 people in it.
The Transfer Student Secret
Section D of the Cornell Common Data Set is for transfers. Most people forget Cornell is actually quite transfer-friendly compared to its Ivy peers.
While Harvard might take 15 transfers a year, Cornell often takes hundreds. They have "Transfer Option" (TO) agreements for certain students, but even "lateral" transfers (moving from one 4-year school to another) have a decent shot. The CDS lists the exact number of transfer applicants and admittees. If you’re unhappy at your current school, these numbers might give you more hope than the freshman admission stats ever would.
Actionable Steps for Your Application
Stop guessing. Start measuring.
- Download the latest PDF: Search for "Cornell University Common Data Set 2024-2025" (or the most recent year available). Cornell usually hosts these on their Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) website.
- Audit your "Very Important" factors: Look at Section C7. If your GPA is at the 50th percentile, but your "Character" isn't reflected in your letters of rec, you have work to do.
- Check the "First-generation" stats: Cornell values first-gen students. If you are one, know that you’re part of a specific cohort they track and actively recruit.
- Compare the colleges: Remember that applying to the College of Arts and Sciences is a different "numbers game" than applying to the School of Hotel Administration. The CDS gives the aggregate, but the specific requirements for portfolios or interviews (Section C8) will vary.
- Verify the testing policy: Don't rely on a blog post from 2022. The CDS will confirm exactly which tests were "Required," "Recommended," or "Used for Info Only" in the most recent cycle.
The data is there. It's boring, it's dry, and it's hidden in a spreadsheet format that looks like it was designed in 1998. But it's the most honest conversation Cornell will ever have with you. Use it to build a balanced college list. If Cornell is a "reach" based on the CDS, make sure you have some "matches" where your stats sit comfortably in the 75th percentile.
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Applying to college is a lot of things. It's stressful. It's emotional. It's expensive. But at its core, it's a data-driven process. By mastering the Cornell Common Data Set, you're moving from a "hopeful applicant" to a "strategic one." That’s how you actually get in.