Please allow 5 business days for application materials to be added to your checklist.

First-year Students

We require your official secondary/high school transcript(s). Official transcripts must be signed or stamped with an official seal of the institution. In order to be considered official, they must be sent using one of the following methods:

Please allow 5 business days for application materials to be added to your checklist.

First-year Students

Cornell’s application fee is $80. However, if the application fee presents a financial burden for you or your family, and you plan to apply for financial aid, you may qualify for a fee waiver.

To request a fee waiver on the Common Application:

Joint Statement for Candidates on Common Ivy League Admission Procedure

Applicants who expect to play on one or more of Cornell’s 37 varsity teams must continue to align their activity with Ivy League policy. Recruited student athletes must follow Ivy League guidelines.

Cornell will reinstitute standardized testing requirements for students seeking undergraduate admission for fall 2026 enrollment. To provide students with time to prepare and take standardized tests, Cornell will remain test optional for students applying in the upcoming admissions cycle for enrollment in fall 2025, as previously announced, although these applicants are encouraged to submit SAT and/or ACT scores to Cornell colleges and schools that are currently test-optional. 

Cornell University reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission under certain circumstances, and at any time, including after a student is in attendance at the university.

In Spring 2016, Cornell University signed President Obama’s Fair Chance Higher Education Pledge. Cornell has committed to eliminating unnecessary barriers in the admissions process for applicants who provide information about a misdemeanor or felony conviction.

In collaboration with the Cornell Prison Reform and Education Project (PREP), this information is intended to assist prospective students with information about Cornell’s commitment to eliminating unnecessary barriers in the admissions process.

Among the elements of the pledge, Cornell has committed to:

We can't wait for you to join the Cornell community! If your deferral has been approved, please review the important updates and milestones listed below. It's important that you're aware of theses dates in the winter and spring leading up to your arrival on campus. If you have any questions about the enrollment process, please contact admissions@cornell.edu.

Cornell University supports the concept of a gap year experience for students between high school and college. Successful gap year experiences start with a well-developed plan and include personal goals. We encourage students considering Cornell for their undergraduate education to apply and gain admission before requesting an enrollment deferral to participate in a gap year experience. Students offered admission will need to submit their request and discuss their gap year plans before Undergraduate Admissions can grant an enrollment deferral.

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