Cornell University

What is Cornell University?

📌 Cornell University is a top research university and member of the Ivy League, located in Ithaca, New York. What makes Cornell special is that it combines the reputation of a private university with the accessibility of a public school. Founded in 1865 by businessman Ezra Cornell and educator Andrew Dickson White, the university sits on 2,300 acres with beautiful views of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes area[1][2][3]. Cornell is unique because it has both private colleges and state-funded programs all in one place[2].

💡 FOUNDING VISION: Cornell was built on Ezra Cornell's idea that "any person can find instruction in any study," making it "the first truly American university"[4][5]. This commitment to welcoming all students was unusual for that time period, as Cornell accepted students regardless of their gender, race, or religion when most schools did not[4]. Created after the Civil War through the Morrill Land Grant Act, Cornell helped make higher education more accessible by combining hands-on subjects like farming and engineering with traditional studies like literature and history[1][3].

🏫 ACADEMIC STRUCTURE: The university works through a unique system that includes both privately funded colleges and publicly supported schools[2]. This setup creates a complete range of studies covering almost every subject you can think of, from engineering and agriculture to humanities and social sciences[4]. Cornell consistently ranks high among universities (12th in the nation, 14th worldwide) and is known for excellent research quality (96.8/100) and outstanding teaching[6][7][8]. Besides its main campus in Ithaca, Cornell also has locations in New York City and Doha, Qatar[9].

🌍 COMMUNITY AND IMPACT: Cornell brings together students from all 50 states and more than 120 countries, along with faculty that includes Nobel Prize winners and MacArthur Fellows, plus a worldwide network of successful graduates[5][10][11]. These graduates have made their mark in many fields, including law (Ruth Bader Ginsburg), literature (Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut), science (Bill Nye, Mae Jemison), and business (Ratan Tata)[5][11]. The university continues to focus on research and serving the community, staying true to its original mission of practical education and public service while remaining one of the world's most important academic institutions[3][7][12].