Cornell University

Cornell University (/kɒrˈnɛl/ korr-NEHL) is a private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. It was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson White in 1865. Since its founding, Cornell has been a co-educational and nonsectarian institution. 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 is organized into eight undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions on its main Ithaca campus. Each college and academic division has near autonomy in defining its admission standards and academic curriculum. In addition to its primary campus in Ithaca, Cornell administers three satellite 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. Among its eight undergraduate colleges, three 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 spans 745 acres (301 ha).

As of October 2024, 64 Nobel laureates, 4 Turing Award winners, and 1 Fields Medalist have been affiliated with Cornell University. The university counts 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 was founded on April 27, 1865, by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. It was set up as New York's land-grant university, with Ezra Cornell giving his farm in Ithaca as the first campus and providing funds for building. White became the university's first president and helped build its early structures and bring in students and teachers.

In its early years, Cornell was known for being innovative, such as becoming one of the first universities with electric lighting in 1883. Over time, Cornell grew to include many top-ranked programs in subjects like astrophysics, chemistry, and computer science. In the 2000s, Cornell expanded worldwide, opening a medical college in Qatar and forming partnerships with universities in several countries.

Campuses

Cornell University's main campus is located in Ithaca, New York, offering views of the city and Cayuga Lake. The campus has expanded to approximately 745 acres since its founding and includes academic buildings, laboratories, residential areas, and more. It features a mix of architectural styles, with older buildings often more ornate and newer ones reflecting modern designs.

In addition to its Ithaca campus, Cornell has locations in New York City and abroad. The medical campus in Manhattan, called Weill Cornell, works closely with major hospitals. Another campus called Cornell Tech is located on Roosevelt Island and focuses on technology and engineering. The university also has a medical college in Qatar and various research facilities around the world, including marine laboratories and conservation sites.

Organization and administration

Cornell University is organized into 16 colleges, each with its own way of running things. Some colleges get money from New York State, while others rely on private support. The university is led by a group of 64 trustees who choose a president to guide the school.

Cornell offers many different programs for students, from undergraduate to graduate levels. Some of the 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 generous donors have helped support Cornell, allowing it to build new programs and facilities. Today, Cornell’s resources total more than $10 billion, helping it offer top-quality education and research opportunities.

Academics

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

Cornell offers many undergraduate majors with opportunities to study in countries across six continents. Students can choose from fields like African Studies, Asian-Pacific American Studies, and many others. The university also partners with schools around the world for students and teachers to visit and learn together.

Research

Cornell University is known for its strong research programs. In 2021, it ranked 14th among U.S. universities for spending on research and development, with over $1.18 billion spent that year. The university is especially strong in science, technology, and engineering. It has contributed to important discoveries in space exploration, automotive safety, and computing technology.

Cornell has been involved in many exciting projects, such as Mars exploration missions and studying the rings of Uranus. The university also has a famous philosophy program, with many respected scholars teaching there over the years.

Student life

Cornell University has many activities for students to join. As of 2016–2017, there were over 1,000 student groups. These groups 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 over 250,000 living alumni. Some notable alumni include leaders like Lee Teng-hui, Tsai Ing-wen, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Others include 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 faculty includes many respected teachers and researchers. Notable faculty members have included scientists like Hans Bethe and writers such as Carl Sagan.