Cornell University Rankings 2026

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, and is known for its academic excellence and innovation. The Cornell University QS Ranking is #16th globally for 2026, reflecting its strong academic reputation, employer reputation, and international faculty and student ratios.  

Cornell University has a student body of 26,793, comprising 16,128 undergraduate and 10,665 graduate students. The university's diversity is evident, with students representing all 50 U.S. states and over 130 countries. 

Cornell University has recently been recognized for its outstanding contributions to community engagement and employee excellence. Furthermore, the university's commitment to community service was highlighted through the Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Awards, which celebrate undergraduate projects addressing community needs. 

Cornell University World Rankings 2026 

Over the past years, Cornell University has maintained a strong and consistent presence among the world’s top universities. In the QS World University Rankings, it fluctuated slightly between 21st in 2022 and 16th in 2026, reflecting steady performance in academic reputation, employer recognition, and international faculty and student diversity.  

Similarly, in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings, Cornell has remained in the top 20 globally, highlighting its robust research environment, high-quality publications, and global outlook.  

The U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Cornell at 11th among national universities, underlining its academic excellence and career value for graduates. These stable rankings underscore Cornell’s prestige, the strength of its programs, and its continued appeal to international students seeking a world-class education with strong professional prospects. 

Look at the ranking trends of Cornell University below: 

Ranking System	2023	2024	2025	2026
QS World University Ranking	#20	#13	#16	#16
THE World University Ranking	#19	#20	#20	TBA
U.S. News Best Global Universities	#19	~#19	#16	#16

Subject-wise Rankings of Cornell University 

Over recent years, Cornell University has maintained consistently high subject-specific rankings across QS, THE, and U.S. News, with excellent performance in Engineering, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts & Humanities. 

QS Subject-Wise Rankings 2025 

Cornell University’s QS subject rankings highlight its global excellence in both STEM and life sciences. With top positions in Veterinary Science, Pharmacy, and Agriculture, the university demonstrates strong research output and practical application in critical fields.  

Programs like Computer Science and Environmental Sciences also show Cornell’s ability to compete internationally across emerging disciplines. 

Subject	2023	2024	2025
Biological Sciences	#14	#13	#14
Architecture & Built Environment	#21	#19	#19
Engineering & Technology	#35	#30	#30
Law and Legal Studies	#34	#34	#31

THE Subject-Wise Rankings 2025 

According to Times Higher Education, Cornell excels in Engineering, Life Sciences, and Business & Economics, reflecting its interdisciplinary approach and research impact. Strong placements in Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, and Psychology indicate a balanced academic portfolio, catering to students across diverse interests while maintaining global prestige. 

Subject	2023	2024	2025
Arts and Humanities	#25	#31	#32
Engineering	#24	#27	#24
Law	#27	#35	#34
Life Sciences	#19	#15	#18
Business & Economics	#21	#20	#18

U.S. News Subject-Wise Rankings 2025 

U.S. News highlights Cornell’s strength in STEM and natural sciences, with top rankings in Computer Science, Chemistry, and Engineering. Life sciences disciplines, including Clinical Medicine, Biology, and Environmental Studies, also feature prominently, showcasing Cornell’s comprehensive academic excellence and appeal to students seeking research-driven programs with global recognition. 

Subject	2023	2024	2025
Computer Engineering (PG)	#8	#8	#9
Mechanical Engineering (PG)	#9	#10	#10
Biomedical Engineering (PG)	#14	#12	#12
Graduate Business School (MBA)	#15	#15	#15
Civil Engineering (PG)	#12	#10	#10
Electrical Engineering (PG)	#10	#10	#9

Check out the programs offered by the university: Cornell University Courses  

Cornell University Excellence and Achievements 

Cornell University continues to uphold its legacy of academic distinction, community engagement, and cultural innovation. In 2025, the institution received numerous accolades that underscore its commitment to excellence across various domains. 

Academic Excellence and National Recognition 

Cornell's academic achievements are further highlighted by the following awards: 

Category	Recognition
Stephen H. Weiss Teaching Award	Recognizes exceptional undergraduate teaching.
Provost Award for Teaching Excellence in Graduate and Professional Programs	Honors outstanding graduate-level teaching.
Carpenter Advising Award	Acknowledges excellence in academic advising.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions 

Cornell's dedication to fostering a supportive community is evident through various recognitions: 

Category	Recognition
President's Awards for Employee Excellence	Recognizes outstanding contributions by staff and faculty.
Community-Engaged Practice & Innovation Awards	Honors faculty for developing community-engaged learning, leadership, or research activities.
Graduate Excellence & Impact Awards	Recognizes graduate students for exemplary leadership and service.

Cultural and Creative Excellence 

Cornell's commitment to cultural and creative endeavors is showcased through various awards: 

Category	Recognition
Inclusive Excellence Awards	Recognizes individuals who exemplify inclusive and effective teaching practices.
Robert and Helen Appel Fellowship for Humanists and Social Scientists	Supports faculty for exceptional contributions to the humanities and social sciences.
Steven W. Siegel '68 Award	Honors individuals for their legacy in preserving history and living authentically.

These recognitions reflect Cornell University's unwavering commitment to develop an environment of excellence, inclusivity, and cultural enrichment. 

Want to apply to Cornell University? Check details about Cornell University Admission. 

Miscellaneous Rankings 2025 

In addition to its subject-specific and overall rankings, Cornell University has garnered recognition in various other categories in 2025. These accolades reflect the university's multifaceted excellence in areas such as student outcomes, return on investment, and institutional reputation. 

Ranking Description	Cornell Ranking 2025
Forbes America's Top Colleges	#10
CWUR Global University Ranking	#14
ARWU (Shanghai) Global Ranking	#12
FIRE Free Speech Rankings	#215

These rankings highlight Cornell University's strong performance across diverse metrics, underscoring its status as a leading institution globally. 

Cornell University Rankings vs Acceptance Rate 

Cornell University’s global prestige and consistently high rankings make it one of the most competitive Ivy League schools to get into. This popularity drives low acceptance rates across most programs, with certain colleges being even more selective due to their global recognition and career impact.  

Colleges like CALS and Architecture rank #1 globally, and remain extremely selective, while the MBA program is relatively more accessible. 

Cornell University Acceptance rate & Program Rankings 2025: 

Program	2025 Global Ranking	Acceptance Rate (2025)
Overall Undergraduate Admissions	Top 20 globally overall	~8.7%
College of Arts & Sciences	Among the Top 30 globally	~7.4%
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences	#13 in Agricultural Sciences   (US News)	~14.7%
Johnson Graduate School of Management	#14 globally for MBA (QS)	~28%
College of Architecture, Art & Planning	#1 nationally in Architecture (Design Intelligence)	~9%

Learn more about Cornell University Acceptance rate  

Ranking Methodologies 

Understanding how top-ranking agencies evaluate universities is essential to interpreting Cornell University’s global standing. Each ranking body: QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News & World Report, uses distinct parameters to assess institutional performance, focusing on factors such as research impact, teaching quality, student diversity, global reputation, and employability.  

Below is a detailed breakdown of their methodologies for 2025. 

QS World University Rankings Methodology (2025) 

QS emphasizes academic reputation and global employability while also considering research output and international outlook. 

Focus Area	Weightage
Academic Reputation	40%
Employer Reputation	10%
Faculty-to-Student Ratio	20%
Citations per Faculty	20%
International Faculty Ratio	5%
International Student Ratio	5%

QS focuses heavily on global recognition and research excellence, making Cornell’s consistently high QS rank a reflection of its strong academic reputation and employability outcomes. 

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings Methodology (2025) 

THE places strong emphasis on teaching quality and research impact, assessing a university’s contribution to innovation and knowledge creation globally. 

Focus Area	Weightage
Teaching (Learning Environment)	30%
Research (Volume, Income & Reputation)	30%
Citations (Research Influence)	30%
International Outlook	7.5%
Industry Income	2.5%

THE measures a balanced mix of teaching quality and research excellence, rewarding universities like Cornell that perform strongly in citations, innovation, and international collaboration. 

U.S. News & World Report Rankings Methodology (2025) 

U.S. News focuses more on research performance and academic reputation, using quantitative metrics to evaluate global universities. 

Focus Area	Weightage
Global Research Reputation	12.5%
Regional Research Reputation	12.5%
Publications	10%
Books & Conference Papers	7.5%
Normalized Citation Impact	10%
Total Citations	7.5%
International Collaboration	10%
Highly Cited Papers	12.5%
Research Influence & Quality	17.5%

U.S. News prioritizes research-driven performance, meaning Cornell’s strong presence in high-impact publications and international collaborations plays a significant role in its ranking. 

Conclusion: 

Cornell University rankings are consistently high and highlight its academic excellence, research leadership, and worldwide reputation. From being a top 20 global university to leading in specialized fields like agriculture, architecture, business, and life sciences, Cornell continues to set benchmarks in innovation, teaching quality, and employability outcomes. 

For aspiring students, understanding Cornell’s ranking trends, subject-wise strengths, and selective admissions can help in making well-informed academic and career decisions. With its strong global presence, inclusive campus culture, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Cornell remains a top choice for international students seeking world-class education and career opportunities.