About Cornell College
Why Cornell?
At Cornell College we strive to cultivate an inclusive, equitable community for people of all identities and intersections. We welcome the unique personalities, styles, beliefs, and perspectives that each student, staff member, and faculty member brings to our campus. In doing so, we join the cities of Mount Vernon and Lisbon in their support of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a community standard.
Ingenuity is a tradition and the name of our curriculum. You’ll find a motivated community and progressive programs that keep the liberal arts relevant to you and the workplace where you’ll implement your skills. Cornellians pioneer their own paths to success by following the rhythm of the block plan and allowing their curiosity to lead the way One Course At A Time.
Simply put, it means that when you graduate from Cornell, you’ll have a wealth of hands-on academic experiences to offer employers. You will be equipped to excel in the classroom and in your career, and you will have a network of Cornell alumni who achieved their goals and are eager to help you do the same.
Innovative then, Innovative now
Cornell College's history is rich in innovative thinking. In 1978, we adopted our distinct academic calendar, just 125 years after the college was founded. This new approach was a big shake-up from the traditional semester schedule, but it was worth it. The results? A powerful new way to educate students.
The block plan structure enables you to dive into your studies and explore your passions. You will bond with your classmates and form long-lasting mentorships with your professors. Every course allows for intensive engagement with the subject matter, in-depth discussion, and exciting fieldwork.
Cornell continues to offer an innovative core curriculum with Ingenuity, courses, and programs that transform the college experience. In fact, we’ve been featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives since it was first published in 1996.
One Course At A Time
Discover our distinctive block plan: For each 18-day block, you take only one class at a time. Immerse yourself in your studies, travel abroad, or even get hands-on experience in an internship. You can customize your Cornell experience to match your goals.
Ingenuity at Cornell
The Ingenuity curriculum is designed to spark your creative and innovative ideas and shape them into the future success stories that our alumni are known for. It all starts with your First-Year Seminar during Block 1 when you’ll begin your journey—and it’s woven throughout the rest of your studies, no matter which academic path you take.
Ingenuity in Action is a graduation requirement that ensures you will have two fully-funded hands-on experiences to share on your resume. You may choose to explore even more.
Cornell College has a history of being first
Cornell has a history of leading change and innovation, both in the classroom and beyond. We strive to be a model of progress to offer support to our campus community and to be good global citizens.
Cornell College outcomes
Cornell’s revolutionary spirit has always been driven by our community. You’ll find countless opportunities for hands-on learning and in-depth academics that will allow you to plan an education that will prepare you for a lifetime of careers. In other words, your Cornell experience is what you make it.
That’s what drove Raquel Ruiz. She had a love for both STEM and music—so she majored in both, graduating with a B.S.E. in engineering and a B.A. in music. Raquel was part of only the third class at Cornell to graduate with B.S.E. degrees, paving the way for future graduates in the program.
Or take Cali Pfleger who graduated from Cornell with a B.A. in geology and environmental studies, plus a passion for researching climate change.
“My biggest achievement while at Cornell was being able to start a research project my first year and then nurture it and have it grow into what is now my future,” Cali said. “It means the world to me that I was able to have the opportunity to conduct so much research as an undergraduate student.”
Now she’s onto her Ph.D. program at Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California Santa Barbara.
As a Cornellian, you will graduate with the confidence to achieve your dreams and lead change in the world around you.