Cornell University

Cornell University (/kɒrˈnɛl/ korr-NEHL) is a private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. It was started by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and educator Andrew Dickson White in 1865. Cornell is co-educational and nonsectarian. As of fall 2024, the university had 16,128 undergraduate and 10,665 postgraduate students from all 50 U.S. states and 130 countries.

The university has eight undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions on its main Ithaca campus. Each college helps decide its own rules and courses. Cornell also has three smaller campuses, including two in New York City, the medical school and Cornell Tech, and a branch of the medical school in Al Rayyan in Education City, Qatar.

Cornell is one of three private land-grant universities in the United States. Three of its undergraduate colleges are state-supported statutory or contract colleges partly financed through the State University of New York – the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Human Ecology, and the Industrial and Labor Relations School – as is one of the graduate divisions, the Veterinary Medicine College. The main campus in Ithaca covers 745 acres (301 ha).

As of October 2024, 64 Nobel laureates, 4 Turing Award winners, and 1 Fields Medalist have been linked with Cornell University. The university has more than 250,000 living alumni, including 34 Marshall Scholars, 33 Rhodes Scholars, 29 Truman Scholars, 63 Olympic medalists, 10 current Fortune 500 CEOs, and 35 billionaires.

History

Main article: History of Cornell University

Cornell University started on April 27, 1865. It was founded by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. Ezra Cornell gave his farm in Ithaca to be the first campus and money to build. White was the first president and helped make the university and bring in students and teachers.

In the early years, Cornell was known for new ideas. It was one of the first universities to have electric lighting in 1883. Over time, Cornell grew and added many top programs in subjects like astrophysics, chemistry, and computer science. In the 2000s, Cornell grew around the world, opening a medical college in Qatar and working with universities in many countries.

Campuses

Cornell University's main campus is in Ithaca, New York. From the campus, you can see the city and Cayuga Lake. The campus has grown to about 745 acres since it started. It has buildings for learning, labs, places to live, and more. The buildings have different styles. Older ones are fancy, and newer ones look modern.

Besides the Ithaca campus, Cornell has places in New York City and other countries. The medical school in Manhattan, called Weill Cornell, works with big hospitals. Another place called Cornell Tech is on Roosevelt Island and studies technology and engineering. The university also has a medical school in Qatar and research spots all over the world, like labs by the sea and nature sites.

Organization and administration

Cornell University has 16 colleges, each with its own way of working. Some colleges get money from New York State, and others use private support. The university is led by 64 trustees who pick a president to guide the school.

Cornell offers many programs for students, from undergraduate to graduate levels. Well-known colleges include Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Agriculture and Life Sciences. The university also has special schools for areas like business and hotel administration. Over the years, many donors have helped Cornell build new programs and facilities. Today, Cornell’s resources are worth more than $10 billion, helping it provide excellent education and research opportunities.

Academics

Cornell is a big research university where students study for four years. The school has been known for its quality since 1921. The school year has a special three-week winter session between the fall and spring terms.

Cornell offers many subjects for students to study. They can choose from areas like African Studies and Asian-Pacific American Studies. The university works with schools around the world so students and teachers can visit and learn together.

Research

Cornell University is known for its strong research programs. It is especially good at science, technology, and engineering. The university has helped make important discoveries in space exploration, automotive safety, and computing technology.

Cornell has worked on exciting projects, such as exploring Mars and studying the rings of Uranus. The university also has a famous philosophy program with many respected teachers.

Student life

Cornell University has many activities for students to join. As of 2016–2017, there were over 1,000 student groups. These include sports teams, music groups like the Glee Club and the Chordials, cultural clubs, and media groups. The Cornell International Affairs Society has a Model UN team, and the Mock Trial team often competes nationally.

Cornell has a large fraternity and sorority system with about 70 groups. Many of these groups are among the oldest in the country. Students can also join honor societies and other special groups. The university has student newspapers like The Cornell Daily Sun and a radio station, WVBR-FM.

Students live in different areas on campus, including North Campus and West Campus. North Campus is mainly for first-year students, while West Campus is for older students. There are many places to eat on campus, and in 2025, Cornell's dining was ranked fifth in the nation.

Cornell’s sports teams, called the Big Red, compete in the Ivy League. They are especially known for wrestling, lacrosse, ice hockey, and rowing. The university also has a big outdoor education program with many activities like hiking and climbing.

Cornell has many traditions, like Slope Day and Dragon Day. Slope Day is a big celebration, and Dragon Day is when architecture students build a dragon. The school colors are carnelian and white, and the mascot is a bear. The alma mater song is “Far Above Cayuga’s Waters,” and the fight song is “Give My Regards to Davy.”

Cornell offers health services for students, including counseling and medical care. The university has its own police force that works 24 hours a day to keep the campus safe.

People

Alumni

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Cornell University alumni.

Cornell University has many graduates. Some famous alumni include leaders such as Lee Teng-hui, Tsai Ing-wen, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Other alumni are inventors like Willis Carrier, authors such as Thomas Pynchon, and entertainers like Bill Nye.

Faculty

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Cornell University faculty.

Further information: List of Nobel laureates by university affiliation

Cornell’s teachers and researchers are well-known. Famous faculty have included scientists like Hans Bethe and writers such as Carl Sagan.