Academic Life at Cornell University

Academics at a Glance

Whats the point of going to college without academics? Below is an overview of academic life at Cornell University — the faculty and staff who teach, the majors and fields of study on offer, and the online and distance options available.

Each topic below links to a dedicated page with the full detail:

• Faculty Resources
• Most Popular Majors
• Additional Questions to Ask
• Continue Your Research

Faculty Resources

With 9 students for every instructional faculty member, Cornell University ranks among the best colleges for instructional attention when compared with the national average of 15 to 1. With 92% of instructors full time, Cornell University is above the national average of 47%.

For a deeper look at tenure, adjuncts and faculty composition, visit the faculty composition report.

Majors and Fields of Study

Students at Cornell University can choose from 95 majors with reported graduates spanning 24 broad fields of study.

Degrees offered at Cornell University are summarised below:

Ranked by number of graduates, these are the most popular majors at Cornell University.

For the complete list of majors, concentrations and graduation numbers, see the academic majors report.

Questions Worth Asking

As you weigh academic life at Cornell University, a few more questions are worth asking:

• Looking for flexibility? Cornell University may offer online or summer classes that can help you finish your degree — 593 undergraduates take at least some classes online. See distance learning options.
• Interested in outcomes? Look at how well Cornell University retains and graduates its students — 98% of full-time freshmen return). See graduation and retention.
• Worried about job prospects? Ask about employment outcomes for recent graduates of Cornell University.

Explore Further on Cornell University

Each page below covers one part of academic life at Cornell University in more detail:

• Majors & Degree Programs at Cornell University — majors, concentrations and completions in detail
• Faculty Composition at Cornell University — the full faculty and class-size breakdown
• Graduation and Retention at Cornell University — graduation outcomes and retention detail
• Online Learning at Cornell University — what online and distance learning is available
• Accreditation Detail at Cornell University — regional and program accreditation status