'16 by the Numbers

By Robert Emro

The College of Engineering received a record number of applications this year—more than at any time in the college's history—and made fewer offers of admission than at any time in the last decade, in coordination with the University's overall enrollment plan. Despite the dearth of acceptance letters issued, Cornell Engineering's Class of 2016 is the largest, most diverse and most talented ever.

  • The College of Engineering received 9,474 applications for first-year admission (of nearly 38,000 applications to Cornell)
  • 1,687 students were offered admission, which equates to an 18 percent admit rate.
  • 788 chose Cornell.
  • 16 percent of the incoming class are under-represented minority students (compared to 14 percent in 2011 and 13 percent in 2010)
  • 43 percent of the incoming class are women (compared to 37 percent in 2011 and 2010)
  • 9 percent of the incoming class are international students–this percentage held steady relative to the last two years

With so few offers extended, Engineering Admissions expected to use its wait list to "build upwards" to an enrollment goal of 742 matriculating first-year engineers. But the engineering class exceeded that target, so the waiting list was not used this year.

Relative to last year's class, SAT scores held steady on the SAT Math exam and improved slightly in the SAT Verbal exam.

The College of Engineering admitted slightly fewer students via early decision this year, allowing us greater flexibility in the regular decision pool. 31 percent of the enrolling first-year class this year were early decision applicants.