Cornell Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

Cornell University 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding Cornell retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.

• Cornell Retention Rate
• Cornell Graduation Rate
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Full Time
  • Non-First Time Undergrads Attending Part Time
• Cornell Drop Out Rate
• Methodology & References

Cornell Retention Rate

The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.

With 98% students making it past their freshmen year, Cornell has freshmen retention rates above the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in New York, the average is 73.51%.

Cornell Graduation Rates

How many of the estimated 3850 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?

Four years after beginning their degree, 90% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 95% of the students had graduated and after eight years 96% of this class completed their degree.

Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Cornell graduation rate 95%.

Cornell Graduation Rates vs. National Average

The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.

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Cornell Drop Out Rate

Approximately 175 students or 4% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 175 students who did not complete their degree?

• 4 are still enrolled.

• 103 transferred to another institution.

• Cornell lost contact with the remaining 67 who we assumed dropped out.

Cornell Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.

Traditional Students:

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.

Non-Traditional Students:

Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.

The majority of students at Cornell are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.

First-Time / Full-Time Cornell Graduation Rates

First-time / full-time students at Cornell University represent 83.41% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Cornell graduation rate was 95%, and by the eight year mark, 96% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

Cornell First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

First-Time / Full-Time Cornell Drop Out Rates

146 first-time / full-time students or 4% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 4 are still enrolled.

• 95 transferred to another institution.

• Cornell lost contact with the remaining 47 who we assumed dropped out.

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

First-time / part-time students at Cornell University represent 0.02% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Cornell graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.

First-Time / Part-Time Cornell Graduation Rates vs. National Average

First-Time / Part-Time Cornell Drop Out Rates

1 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• Cornell lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

Returning / full-time students at Cornell University represent 16.54% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Cornell graduation rate was 96%, and by the eight year mark, 96% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.

Cornell Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Full-Time Cornell Drop Out Rates

27 non first-time / part-time students or 4% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 1 are still enrolled.

• 8 transferred to another institution.

• Cornell lost contact with the remaining 18 who we assumed dropped out.

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

Returning / part-time students at Cornell University represent 0.02% of the students in the class of 2023.

After six years, the Cornell graduation rate was 0%, and by the eight year mark, 0% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.

Cornell Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

Non First-Time / Part-Time Cornell Drop Out Rates

1 non first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

• 0 are still enrolled.

• 0 transferred to another institution.

• Cornell lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.

More Resources:

• An Explanation of Freshman Retention Rates.

• How Common is it to Transfer to a Different College?

• Are Non-Traditional Students Less Likely to Graduate?

• How Many People Drop-Out of College?

• How Average Time to Graduate Can Affect the Value of Your Degree.

References

• National Center for Education Statistics
• Image Credit: By Notyourbroom under License