About Cornell University. Cornell University in Ithaca, NY reports an overall acceptance rate of 8.4%, an early-round acceptance rate of 18.8%, an SAT middle 50% of 1510–1560, a class size of 3,500, and a yield of 64.0% based on the most recent Common Data Set filings. Largest Ivy. Has both private and state-funded (contract) colleges. Acceptance rate varies by college from ~4% to ~18%.