Cornell College is a national liberal arts college committed to excellence in teaching and the creation of a welcoming community in which all individuals are respected and included. Our innovative curriculum includes a focus on the essential abilities of writing, quantitative reasoning, and intercultural literacy as well as experiential learning. The One Course At A Time approach fosters strong student engagement and close faculty-student relationships while allowing faculty freedom to design and carry out their classes, on campus or off.

Founded in 1853, Cornell’ was the first college west of the Mississippi to graduate both men and women.  Academic immersion, real-world experience requirements through Ingenuity in Action, and unparalleled flexibility attract an ambitious student body from around the world. Seventy percent of our students are from outside Iowa, representing nearly 50 states and 26 foreign countries. Students of color comprise one-fourth of the student body.

Cornell’s picturesque hilltop campus is a National Historic District and was the first campus listed in its entirety on the National Register of Historic Places. Mount Vernon is a small, college-centered town in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor, home to nearly half a million people. It has two additional National Historic Districts and a classic Main Street a short walk from campus. Mount Vernon attractions include an array of restaurants; boutique shopping; walking paths; a dedicated sledding hill; and 14 annual festivals and events including Chalk the Walk, Chocolate Stroll, Chili Cookoff, and Magical Night. 

Cornell College is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce. In compliance with federal and state laws, Cornell employs and promotes personnel without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, or disability.