Cornell University
New York, United States
Founded1865
Campus745 acres
Research$1.6B
Students16,128 UG / 10,000 PG
Updated February 5, 2026
Overview
Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell University is a private Ivy League research university and the federal land-grant institution for New York State. It was established with the revolutionary vision of "any person can find instruction in any study," a mission that continues to drive its commitment to academic breadth, diversity, and public service. As a unique hybrid institution, it operates several "contract colleges" in partnership with the State of New York alongside its private endowed colleges.
The university is recognized for its vast academic scope, offering nearly 80 undergraduate majors and over 100 graduate fields of study. It serves as a major engine for social mobility and public engagement, meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. Cornell's governance includes a Board of Trustees and leadership split between its Ithaca headquarters and its medical and technical campuses in New York City.
Location
The main campus is situated in Ithaca, New York, on the traditional homelands of the Cayuga Nation. This central hub is home to the iconic 21-bell McGraw Tower, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, and one of the ten largest academic research libraries in the United States. The Ithaca campus serves as the primary residential and academic center for the university's diverse student population.
Beyond Ithaca, Cornell maintains a significant presence in New York City through Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island, which focuses on the digital economy, and Weill Cornell Medicine. Other specialized locations include Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York, which serves as a hub for food and agricultural innovation. The university also operates global study centers and facilities in Washington, D.C., Rome, and Doha, Qatar.
Ithaca, United States
Also in: Geneva, United States · Rome, Italy · New York, United States · New York, United States · Doha, Qatar · Washington, United States
Campuses
Ithaca
MainIthaca· United States
Cornell AgriTech
Geneva· United States
Cornell in Rome
Rome· Italy
Cornell Tech
New York· United States
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York· United States
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
Doha· Qatar
Campus Culture
Cornell University supports a vibrant student life with over 1,000 student organizations and 37 varsity sports teams. The university maintains a residential community that provides housing for all first- and second-year students, complemented by a nationally ranked dining program. The student body is notably diverse, consisting of approximately 16,128 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate students representing 130 countries. For the Class of 2028, over 20% of students are first-generation college attendees.
The campus culture is rooted in a commitment to diversity and inclusion, supported by dedicated resource centers for Africana studies, American Indian and Indigenous studies, Asian and Asian American students, LGBT communities, and women. Public service is a core tradition, facilitated through the David M. Einhorn Center and the Cornell Cooperative Extension, which connects the university's research to every county in New York State.
Rankings
Cornell University is consistently recognized for academic excellence and prestige across a wide array of disciplines. Its Nolan School of Hotel Administration is ranked first globally for hospitality management. Additionally, the university holds top-ten positions for its undergraduate and graduate business programs through the Dyson and Johnson Schools.
In the realm of technology and science, Cornell is ranked second for AI research by CSRankings and maintains top-five standings in agricultural sciences and communication. The university's reputation as an Ivy League institution is further bolstered by its status as a premier research hub, with significant national rankings in engineering and veterinary medicine.
Research
Cornell is a global research powerhouse with annual expenditures reaching $1.61 billion across all divisions in fiscal year 2024. The university hosts over 200 interdisciplinary centers and institutes, including the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and the Cornell Center for Materials Research. It is particularly noted for its strengths in accelerator physics and its leadership roles in international microwave observatory projects and the Electron-Ion Collider.
Innovation and entrepreneurship are central to Cornell's research mission. Since 2014, alumni from the Cornell Tech campus have founded more than 100 startups, raising over $330 million in funding. The university also supports entrepreneurial PhDs through programs like the Runway Startup Postdoc Program, which provides investment and resources to commercialize technical innovations. Graduate research is uniquely organized through a "field structure" that encourages faculty and students to collaborate across traditional departmental boundaries.