Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Fringe town

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa. 1,086 undergraduates. Admits 80% of applicants.

60%Graduation rate6 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$25,297Average net price per year27% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$57,224Median earnings 10 years after startingAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$27,000Median debt at graduation25% above the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($27,000) equals 47% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($57,224).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$18,469
$30,000–$48,000$18,144
$48,001–$75,000$20,791
$75,001–$110,000$23,291
Over $110,000$32,919

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $54,776.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate60%54%
Return for second year80%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$44,619$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$57,224$58,912
Median debt at graduation$27,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

43 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Engineering, General10$69,256——
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology27$41,948$63,862$27,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness22$45,641$59,076$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods8$45,850$48,572$27,000
Psychology, General15—$44,234—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research7———
Area Studies1———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies1———
Computer Science11———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas2———
Engineering Science1———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics2———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics4———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies10———
Literature4———
Biology, General3———
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology3———
Mathematics2———
Applied Statistics2———
Classical and Ancient Studies4———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other6———
Philosophy2———
Religion/Religious Studies2———
Chemistry2———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences2———
Research and Experimental Psychology8———
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology2———
Anthropology3———
International Relations and National Security Studies7———
Political Science and Government6———
Sociology4———
Sociology and Anthropology1———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft4———
Fine and Studio Arts10———
Music1———
Business/Managerial Economics6———
Finance and Financial Management Services12———
Human Resources Management and Services1———
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods12——$27,000
History10———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

80%Admission rate
1,234Average SAT of admitted students
23–30ACT middle 50%
14:1Students per faculty member
35%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Cornell College cost per year?
The average net price at Cornell College, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $25,297 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Cornell College graduates earn?
Former Cornell College students earn a median of $57,224 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell College?
60% of Cornell College students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Cornell College graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Cornell College is $27,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.