Accepted Class of 2023 students most diverse ever

Students accepted to Cornell’s Class of 2023 are unprecedentedly diverse, with 55 percent of those admitted identifying as students of color, including both underrepresented minorities and Asian-Americans – the highest percentage in university history.

Cornell received more than 49,000 applications and admitted a total of 5,183 students, including early admission candidates, bringing its overall admission rate to 10.6 percent. Applicants to Ivy League schools were notified of their admission status March 28 at 7 p.m.

For students who completed the financial aid application process, Cornell will begin releasing financial aid packages online March 29. Cornell has made significant investments in financial aid over the past decade. In 2018-19, Cornell awarded more than $270 million in undergraduate financial aid. After six years of slowing the rate of undergraduate tuition increases, Cornell made its lowest tuition increase in decades in 2019-20.

Admitted Class of 2023 applicants hail from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 69 other countries. International students comprise 8 percent of the admitted class, with 95 nations represented based on citizenship.

Aside from New York, the states most represented among the admitted students are California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. Beyond the U.S., the top countries represented include Canada, China, India, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Thirty-two percent of admitted students self-identify as underrepresented minorities, and 670 of those admitted will be first-generation college students.

Jason C. Locke, interim vice provost for enrollment, said the admitted class reflects Cornell’s commitment to diversity and to welcoming students from all backgrounds.

“We have admitted an extraordinarily gifted and accomplished group of students for the Class of 2023, and we look forward to showcasing Cornell’s exceptional academic offerings and dynamic community when we host students and families on campus in April,” he said.

Admitted students have until May 1 to accept Cornell’s offer. In the meantime, prospective students and their families have numerous opportunities to learn more about Cornell.

Around 1,800 students are expected to visit the Ithaca campus during Cornell Days, the admitted student visitation program, which runs April 14-26. The university also expects to host more than 500 students during Diversity Hosting days, April 10-26.

“We’re offering a tremendous amount of activities and opportunities for admitted students to see Cornell up close so they can really appreciate and experience all the university has to offer,” said Shawn Felton, director of undergraduate admissions. “During Cornell Days, visitors can attend a class, stay overnight in a residence hall, eat in our award-winning dining halls, see our facilities, and talk with current students, faculty and staff. These interactions play a significant role in their decision to attend, so we make sure they’re immersive, informative and enjoyable.”

Nearly 1,400 early decision students are already participating in CU on the Hill, a peer-to-peer Cornell social network. On April 13, Cornell will invite admitted students to join “CU on the Hill Live!” events, where Cornell alumni and student ambassadors around the world will host a virtual open house to welcome the Class of 2023.

Cornell will also host in-person events around the world, including a reception April 7 in Mumbai, India, for newly admitted Tata scholars.

An estimated 50 first-year students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Hotel Administration will enroll in January 2020 as part of the First-Year Spring Admission (FYSA) program. Cornell enrolled its fourth class of FYSA students in spring 2019.

Media Contact

John Carberry