How to Apply to Psychology at Cornell University: Psychology in Arts and Sciences or Human Development in Human Ecology, With Requirements and Timeline for Chinese High School, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Cornell University you apply directly to a college. There are two routes into psychology: the Psychology major is open only to students in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and the same department also runs the Human Development major in the College of Human Ecology (CHE). Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Cornell’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Which college to apply to

• Arts and Sciences (for Psychology):
  • more than 40 majors; you list up to two areas of interest and do not declare a major until the end of sophomore year;
  • high school coursework: 4 units of English, 3 of math (including pre-calculus), 3 of science and 3 of one foreign language, with an extra unit of advanced math and science recommended;
  • a 650-word A&S essay about an intellectual passion and how you would use the liberal arts curriculum.
• Human Ecology (for Human Development):
  • most students apply to the Human Development major during regular admission and start in it as first-years;
  • at least 16 units, including 4 of English, 4 of math (calculus strongly recommended) and 4 of science (including biology and chemistry and/or physics);
  • a 550-word essay on an experience connecting you to the college’s mission and your intended major.

2. Psychology and Human Development major requirements

• Areas: cognition, development, social and personality, and neuroscience. Many students combine the Psychology major with a Cognitive Science minor.
• Entering the Psychology major: be in good standing in A&S and pass three or more psychology courses with C+ or better, then submit the major form; the department assigns a faculty advisor.
• Psychology major requirements (entering fall 2023 or later):
  • 40 credits in psychology including prerequisites, C- or better in each; First-Year Writing Seminars and AP do not count;
  • statistics (PSYCH 2500 or an approved course) and a research methods or scientific literacy course before senior year;
  • breadth across at least three of four areas: perception and cognition, development, cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, social and personality;
  • at least one 3000-level and one 4000-level content course; up to 12 credits of undergraduate research (PSYCH 4700/4710) can count;
  • external transfer students must take at least 20 major credits at Cornell.
• Human Development major: also 40 credits with C- or better, statistics and research methods before senior year, plus two developmental psychology courses and other requirements. Students from other colleges must internally transfer into CHE to join it.
• Honors: open to Psychology and Human Development majors for a year of independent research; normally a 3.7 GPA in psychology and HD courses, at least one prior semester of independent study, and completed statistics and research methods. Applications for 2026-2027 were due 8 September 2026.

3. Deadlines and materials

• Early Decision (ED): application and fee by 1 November, other materials by 13 November, decisions in mid-December. ED is binding; admitted students withdraw all other applications.
• Regular Decision (RD): application by 2 January, other materials by 19 January, decisions in late March.
• Materials: the Common App (fee US$85), the Cornell supplement for your chosen college, an official transcript with mid-year grades when available, a counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations.
• SAT or ACT (required): you can self-report; enrolling students must send official scores or risk losing their offer. Cornell takes the highest SAT sections and the ACT superscore; ACT Science is not required. SAT code 2098, ACT code 2726.

4. Students at high schools in China

• You follow the same process as other applicants. Cornell’s first-year pages do not set Gaokao- or China-specific requirements; prepare against your chosen college’s coursework expectations.
• Cornell says about 10% of its students come from more than 125 countries.
• English requirements are in section 6.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Materials and deadlines are the same. Cornell does not list province-specific requirements, including for BC.
• If English has been your primary language of instruction for the past four years, you do not need an English test.
• Financial aid: Cornell’s “U.S. students” are US citizens and certain eligible non-citizens, so Canadian applicants are treated as international, and admission is need-aware (section 7).

6. English requirements

• Exempt if you are a US citizen or permanent resident, English is your native language, or English has been your primary language of instruction for the past four years.
• Otherwise, Cornell’s minimums to be most competitive:
  • TOEFL taken before January 2026: 100; January 2026 or later: 5.0, with 5.5 recommended;
  • IELTS 7.5;
  • Duolingo 130;
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 191.
• Self-reported scores are accepted; enrolling students must send official scores.

7. Costs and financial aid

• 2026-27 estimated cost of attendance (US$):
  • Arts and Sciences (endowed rate): tuition 73,946, fees 1,024, housing 13,744, food 7,604, books 1,234, personal 2,182, about 99,734 in total, plus transportation;
  • Human Ecology is a New York State contract college: only New York residents get the state rate, and non-residents (including international students) have the same estimate as above.
• International aid:
  • admission is need-aware for international students;
  • Cornell meets 100% of admitted international students’ demonstrated need with grants, work-study and reasonable loans;
  • to receive Cornell grant or scholarship aid at any point, you must file the CSS Profile when you apply;
  • international aid deadlines: 1 November (ED) and 2 January (RD).

8. Transfer students

• Timing: fall entry only; application due 15 March, other materials by 15 April, decisions from late April through June. International aid is also due 15 March.
• Eligibility: at least 12 semester hours of college credit after high school (not counting AP) and full-time enrolment elsewhere. Dual-enrolment students apply as first-years; bachelor’s degree holders cannot apply.
• Materials: the Transfer Common App, Grade 9–12 transcripts, all college transcripts, a College Report, an instructor evaluation and a spring mid-term report. SAT and ACT are not required; international applicants must meet the English requirement.
• Transferring into A&S:
  • complete at least 60 credits at Cornell and four semesters in A&S;
  • to enter as a junior, finish the prerequisites for your intended major;
  • competitive applicants complete two full-time semesters of liberal arts courses with at least a 3.5 GPA each semester and no grade below B-, especially in courses for the intended major;
  • A&S re-evaluates transfer credit after admission.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• For Psychology apply to A&S; for Human Development apply to CHE (four years each of math and science)
• Submit by 1 November (ED) or 2 January (RD); SAT or ACT required
• New TOEFL 5.0 (5.5 recommended) / IELTS 7.5 / Duolingo 130 or above
• For aid, file the CSS Profile by the deadline

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines and testing; four years of English-medium study exempts you from English tests
• Aid is handled as international, need-aware

Transfer students:

• Apply by 15 March; no SAT or ACT needed
• For A&S, aim for a 3.5+ GPA each semester with nothing below B-

Sources: Cornell University, First-year applicants; First-year Arts & Sciences applicants; First-year Human Ecology applicants; Standardized testing policy; Transfer applicants; A&S admissions requirements and transfer; Psychology undergraduate; Psychology major; Human Development major; Psychology honors program; Cost to attend; International financial aid. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Cornell for the latest details.