How to apply for engineering at Cornell: 14 Duffield majors, apply to the college rather than a major, a two-year Common Curriculum and major affiliation in sophomore year, calculus, physics and chemistry required, admission routes and preparation for U.S. applicants, international applicants (including applicants from China) and transfers

Cornell University is in Ithaca, New York. Its undergraduate engineering programs are offered by the Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering. This guide covers fall 2027 entry from Cornell’s website, for U.S. applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Majors

• 14 majors: biological engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, earth and climate sciences, electrical and computer engineering, engineering physics, environmental engineering, independent major, information science, systems and technology, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and operations research and engineering. Computer science has its own guide on this site.
• ABET: the majors page says the Sibley School offers an accredited undergraduate program in mechanical engineering. Accreditation of other majors is not stated on the pages read; check each major’s website.
• Degree: Bachelor of Science.
• Global Start Cantabria: each year a small group of incoming engineering students spends the first semester at the Universidad de Cantabria in Spain with a similar course load.

2. Admission: apply to the college, affiliate in sophomore year

• No major on the application: the Duffield FAQ says you apply to the college and may indicate an intended major. Applicants may apply to only one of Cornell’s seven undergraduate colleges.
• First two years: all students take the Common Curriculum: MATH 1910, 1920 and 2930 or 2940; PHYS 1112 (with lab 1110) and 2213; CHEM 2090; CS 1110 or 1112; one introduction to engineering course (ENGRI), two engineering distribution courses (ENGRD), and two first-year writing seminars, among others. Some majors specify particular choices.
• Affiliation: the degree requirements page says students apply to affiliate with a major during the second year; the FAQ says majors are officially selected in the second semester of sophomore year.
• Affiliation criteria: the pages read do not give GPA thresholds or caps; details are in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook, which is hosted on a third-party e-book platform and was not read for this guide. Check the handbook for your entry year or ask Engineering Advising.
• Moving into engineering from another Cornell college: not described on the pages read.
• Early Decision denials: an applicant denied in ED cannot reapply to any Cornell undergraduate college that year.

3. High school preparation

• Required before graduation: 4 units of math including one of calculus, 1 unit of physics, 1 unit of chemistry.
• Recommended: 1 unit of computer science and 1 of biology.
• Calculus: the FAQ says applying without calculus puts you at a substantial disadvantage; rare exceptions may require admitted students to take college calculus at Cornell the summer before starting. AP-level courses are not required as long as you complete a full year each of calculus, chemistry and physics.
• Grades: there is no minimum GPA; admitted students usually have grades in the A range and most are in the top 10% of their class, read in the context of course rigor.
• AP, IB and A-Level credit: awarded for certain exams case by case, not guaranteed; students can also take Cornell Advanced Standing Exams (CASE) at orientation. The external transfer page notes that AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Chemistry require a 5.

4. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Early Decision (binding): application and fee by November 1, remaining materials by November 13, decisions mid-December.
• Regular Decision: application by January 2, remaining materials by January 19, decisions late March.
• Materials: Common App, Cornell writing supplement, transcript, counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations, one of which must come from a math, science or computer science teacher for Duffield; $85 fee.
• Duffield essays: two long responses of up to 200 words (why engineering; why Duffield) and four short answers of up to 100 words.
• Testing: first-year applicants for fall 2026 and later must submit the SAT or ACT.
• Interviews: not required or offered for Duffield.

5. U.S. applicants

• No in-state rate for engineering: the cost page says Duffield charges Cornell’s endowed tuition; only the New York State contract colleges (such as Agriculture and Life Sciences) have separate New York resident rates.
• Need-blind: admission is need-blind for U.S. students (U.S. citizens, dual citizens and certain eligible non-citizens).
• Aid: Cornell meets 100% of admitted students’ demonstrated need with Cornell grants, annual work-study and reasonable loans depending on family income; there are no merit, athletic or talent scholarships.
• Aid deadlines for fall 2027: file the 2027-28 CSS Profile and FAFSA soon after October 1, 2026, and no later than November 15, 2026 (ED), February 15, 2027 (RD) or March 15, 2027 (transfer).
• Engineering scholars programs: all Duffield applicants may be considered for the Jacobs Scholars and McMullen Scholars programs during review.

6. International applicants

• English: Cornell’s most competitive minimum scores are TOEFL 100 (tests before January 2026) or 5.0 (later tests, 5.5 recommended), IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 130 and Cambridge C1/C2 191. Applicants whose primary language of instruction for the past four years was English may be exempt.
• Recommendations: international and ESL applicants are strongly encouraged to have their second recommendation from a teacher who can speak to their English.
• Aid: admission is need-aware for international students; admitted international students have 100% of need met; anyone who may want Cornell aid at any point must file the CSS Profile when applying, by November 1 (ED) or January 2 (RD).

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: Cornell does not publish requirements for the gaokao or Chinese high school curricula; the process and deadlines are the same as for other applicants.
• Coursework: prepare as in section 3 with calculus, physics and chemistry; how Chinese curricula map to these is not published, so ask Admissions.
• Tests: the SAT or ACT is required; see section 6 for English.

8. Transfer students

• Deadline: March 15, with rolling decisions in May and June; fall entry only. SAT/ACT scores are neither required nor expected.
• Four required courses (completed or in progress), without which applications are not reviewed: two calculus courses equivalent to MATH 1910 and MATH 1920, physics equivalent to PHYS 1112, and chemistry equivalent to CHEM 2090. AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Chemistry count only with a 5.
• A specific major: the FAQ says you cannot transfer into Duffield as undeclared; you must be accepted into and affiliate with a specific major, and each major has extra course requirements (listed for the 2026-27 cycle).
• Standing and credit: entry at first- or second-semester sophomore or first-semester junior standing; up to 33 credits per full-time year and 66 in total (including AP, IB, A-Level and similar), with at least 60 credits at Cornell; transferred courses need a C or better (not C-).

9. Costs

• Endowed colleges (USD): tuition $73,946, fees $1,024, housing $13,744, food $7,604, books $1,234, personal $2,182, about $99,734 in total (travel extra).
• Two year labels: the cost page heading says 2026-27, while the table caption says 2025-26. Check with the Office of Financial Aid.
• The pages read list no separate engineering tuition.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Apply to Duffield by November 1 (ED) or January 2 (RD); submit the SAT or ACT
• Complete calculus, physics and chemistry; one recommendation from a math, science or CS teacher
• If you need aid, file the CSS Profile and FAFSA by November 15 (ED) or February 15 (RD)

International applicants (including applicants from China):

• Same deadlines and Duffield essays; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo
• If you may need aid, file the CSS Profile when applying (November 1 ED, January 2 RD); admission is need-aware

Transfer students:

• March 15 deadline; two calculus courses, physics and chemistry completed or in progress
• Choose a specific major and check its extra course requirements

Sources: Cornell University, First-year Duffield Engineering applicants; Duffield majors and minors; B.S. degree requirements; Duffield admissions FAQ; Duffield transfer requirements; Engineering Undergraduate Handbook; First-year applicants; Standardized testing policy; Transfer applicants; Cost to attend; Aid for U.S. students; Aid for international students. Information is for fall 2027 entry; check Cornell’s website for updates.