Cornell University (CALS)

Ithaca, New York

ACCEPTED

SETTING

College town in Finger Lakes region

SIZE

Large (~23,000 (15,000 undergrad) students)

ACADEMIC RIGOR

Very High

Environmental Programs

Environmental Engineering

B.S. (ABET-accredited)

  • Collaboration between CALS and Cornell Engineering
  • Focus on water, air, energy, climate, and sustainable systems
  • Integration of physical, chemical, and biological sciences
  • Strong research opportunities at R1 university

Environment & Sustainability

B.S./B.A. (Major/Minor)

  • Interdisciplinary core curriculum
  • Multiple thematic concentrations available
  • Biological, physical-chemical, ecological, and human dimensions
  • Excellent for graduate school preparation

Campus & Nature

Finger Lakes region with gorges, waterfalls, and extensive natural areas

  • Famous gorges and waterfalls on and near campus
  • Finger Lakes wine region
  • Extensive hiking and outdoor recreation
  • Cornell Botanic Gardens and natural areas

Academic Rigor

Ivy League R1 research university with rigorous STEM programs

  • R1 research university (highest research activity)
  • Ivy League academic standards
  • Extensive research opportunities
  • World-class faculty and facilities
  • Excellent graduate school placement

Liberal Arts Access

  • Ivy League with full liberal arts breadth across seven colleges
  • Can take any economics, government, history, philosophy course
  • Unlimited access to humanities and social sciences
  • Complete university-wide liberal arts resources

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ABET-accredited environmental engineering
  • Ivy League prestige and resources
  • Extensive research opportunities
  • Beautiful Finger Lakes setting
  • Strong graduate school connections
  • Potential in-state tuition (NY residents)

Cons

  • Large university size
  • Very competitive environment
  • Ithaca winters are harsh
  • Somewhat isolated location

Student Voices

Real perspectives from students and alumni on third-party review sites

What Students Love

"As an animal science student, Cornell has a lot of great resources and programs in their department. Lots of research opportunities and hands-on experiences for students."

— Sophomore, 2 months ago

What Students Love

"I was able to take classes across different colleges and explore interests outside my primary field, which made my academic experience feel more personalized and well-rounded."

— Alum, 21 days ago

Common Complaint

"Overall good experience, but very expensive. I spent a lot of time working in order to pay for it, which affected my grades and overall experience at the school."

— Alum, 1 month ago