Attending Cornell College as an International Student
Welcome! We’re excited that you’re considering Cornell College for an undergraduate degree in the central United States, in Mount Vernon, IA.
Cornell is an accredited four-year liberal arts college that takes a different and daring approach to the academic calendar. We study One Course At A Time, meaning you will take four courses every semester, but you take them one at a time for three and a half weeks before moving on to the next course.
Each semester at Cornell, you take four courses; each one lasts 3.5 weeks (18 days) instead of the full semester. Timelines are shorter, learning is deeper.
Each block you focus on one subject every day for 18 days, then there is a 4 day break (includes the weekend) before your next course begins.
Faculty experience
100% of our tenure track faculty hold the highest degree offered in their field of study and act as academic advisors to our students. All coursework is taught by faculty members, and our class sizes are capped at 25 students with an average faculty to student ratio of 1:12.
Our location
Cornell is situated at the highest point in Linn County, Iowa, a place we call the Hilltop. Campus is situated on the edge of the small town of Mount Vernon and covers 129 acres with 13 academic and recreational buildings and 9 residence halls. Mount Vernon is a welcoming town with a vibrant downtown district that offers all the necessary amenities for day to day life and a series of festivals throughout the year.
Take an aerial tour of campus
Cornell is a fully walkable campus, and downtown Mount Vernon is just minutes away from the edge of campus.
Google Earth LocationGet to Know Iowa
Deadlines for applications and admission
As you’re considering applying to Cornell College, please keep these important deadlines in mind.
- August 1 - is the first day you can apply for the following fall term.
- December 1 - priority deadline
- May 1 - college decision day to accept admission with your deposit
- July 1 - financial documentation must be complete to ensure securing a Visa
- August of your starting year is when you will move in and fall semester begins
All international students are required to attend International Student Orientation the week prior to New Student Orientation to give you extra time to move into your room and get comfortable on campus. There will be programming that teaches you more about our location, class schedules, college services, and where to find necessities for everyday life.
Admission requirements
We want to be sure you understand the expectations around studying in the United States and at Cornell College.
Academic Ability
The admission office will ask for a secondary school transcript translated into English.
Financial Ability
International students automatically qualify for academic merit scholarships and this scholarship information will be shared with you upon admission to Cornell College. For the remainder of your tuition and attendance costs, we require proof of financial ability.
Health Insurance
Cornell requires all international students to carry a health insurance policy (provided by Cornell) which will be included in your cost of attendance and will ensure that you qualify for health care in the United States and Iowa in particular.
English Proficiency
Cornell College does require a level of English proficiency in order to be successful in your coursework and student life. While a formal English proficiency test is not required, we do need proof of English proficiency before you will be admitted. You can work directly with your admission counselor for details of what qualifies for proficiency. Options:
- Test Results: ACT, SAT, Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL, EIKEN, or iTEP
- Documentation from your current school indicating English proficiency
- Or schedule a digital or phone interview with your admission counselor
If you believe you qualify for admission to Cornell College we look forward to reading your application and getting to know you better. We have staff dedicated to working with international students who can help you every step of the way.
Questions?
Please contact us at +1 800.747.1112 or email international@cornellcollege.edu. We answer phones from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time for the United States (often labeled as Chicago in time conversion apps) unless other arrangements are made.