2025 College Rankings

Cornell University has a dismal record on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives—one of the worst in our study. It maintains a sprawling DEI bureaucracy, with more than five employees per 1,000 undergraduates and a Chief Diversity Officer tasked with promoting institutional adherence to diversity mantras. Nearly 75 percent of faculty job postings require a DEI statement. Cornell has been recognized for two years running with the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award—an embarrassing distinction. In spring 2025, spring, the federal government announced an investigation into Cornell for its use of racial preferences in admissions, one of the many negative consequences of its DEI commitments.

The university also mishandled the wave of radical anti-Semitic protests that swept college campuses during the 2023–24 academic year. Cornell’s encampment lasted 18 days—one of the longest of any school that we studied—and ended only with the arrival of summer break. During that period, the campus was shaken by violent threats against Jewish students. The federal government is now investigating Cornell’s inadequate response.

Cornell’s commitment to free speech is unimpressive. Only 25 percent of students surveyed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) say that it is “extremely” or “very” clear that the administration protects speech on campus. Worse, just 19 percent believe that the administration would defend a speaker’s right to express controversial views. The school operates a bias-response system aimed at policing speech that some may find offensive. FIRE gives Cornell a “yellow” speech code rating, indicating that its policies are easily subject to abuse and may be used to stifle expression.

Cornell students are relatively ideologically diverse and generally tolerant of opposing views. There are 2.4 liberal students for every conservative, and student political organizations are fairly balanced. Still, self-censorship is a serious issue. Cornell ranks 79th out of 100 on our student free speech index. That tendency extends into the classroom and written assignments.

The curriculum is very poor. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) gives Cornell a D in its What Will They Learn? ratings, which assign letter grades based on how many of seven core subjects are required in the core curriculum or general education program. Students must complete DEI-related coursework to graduate; yet they are not required to study more academically foundational subjects, such as history or government. ACTA does highlight two areas of strength: the Program on Freedom and Free Societies, which hosts events and speakers; and the Chesterton House, an off-campus center for learning and faith development that offers seminars and fellowships focused on the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Cornell tends to be a wise investment in economic terms. Graduates often excel in their careers. Median annual earnings ten years after initial enrollment exceed expectations by over $8,500, based on SAT and Pell Grant data. The average time to recoup the cost of education is 1.8 years—better than our 2.3-year average.