Ithaca, NY · Clery Act 2023 · Private Nonprofit

Cornell University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 26,264-student campus.

6.43
Incidents / 1k students
#2,715
Rank of 3,050
#175
NY rank
26,264
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Cornell University reports 6.43 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,715 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 91% of ranked campuses its size.

6.43
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,715
of 3,050 ranked nationally
91%
report fewer incidents than this campus
85
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

+7 reported incidents

Cornell University increased from 78 to 85 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Cornell University is a Private Nonprofit institution located in Ithaca, NY, enrolling approximately 26,264 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 222 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within NY, it ranks #175 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 26,264 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Cornell University is "Fondling" with 65 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in NY averaging 2.47 incidents per 1,000 students, Cornell University reports 160% more incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 92 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 27 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

6.43 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2715

See peer comparison

State Rank (NY)

#175

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

85

across 11 crime categories

Where Cornell University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

6 safer than 9% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). Below this entry. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). Below this entry. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Below this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Below this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Below this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). This entry sits in this band. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

Cornell University percentile rank 11.0%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2715 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Cornell University reports 160% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$69,314
Out-of-State Tuition
$69,314
Avg Net Price
$28,690
Median Debt
$14,000
Pell Grant Recipients
18%
How does this cost rank in NY? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
9%
SAT Average
1535
SAT Math Range
770–800
ACT Average
34
ACT Range
33–35

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
95%
Retention Rate
98%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$87,830
Median Earnings (10yr)
$104,043
Loan Repayment (3yr)
90%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Enrollment scale

How campus size shapes the safety figures

With 26,264 enrolled students, Cornell University is in the largest 3% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Cornell University: on-campus incidents by year

Rising 44% (59 → 85 incidents)

5060708090 202120222023 59 85 ▲ +44.1%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 220
Arson 1617
Burglary 161923
Fondling 222419
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 153
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 28257
Robbery 020
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 92 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

27 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
27 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 3 29
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 440
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 1 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 3 11
Liquor 2022 0 0
Liquor 2022 0 0
Liquor 2022 0 328
Weapons 2022 0 0
Weapons 2022 0 0
Weapons 2022 1 1
Drugs 2021 0 0
Drugs 2021 0 0

Cornell University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

NY

Cornell University

6.43 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,715
Enrollment
26,264
Data year
2023

FL

Full Sail University

0.04 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#956
Enrollment
26,421
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL · 26,421 enrolled
Safety Score 0.04
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH · 26,106 enrolled
Safety Score 1.72
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · 26,426 enrolled
Safety Score 10.07
South Texas College
Mcallen, TX · 26,440 enrolled
Safety Score 0.30
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA · 26,073 enrolled
Safety Score 0.23

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Cornell University nationally (rank #2715), regardless of size or state.

Touro University California
Vallejo, CA
National Rank #2714
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA
National Rank #2716
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
National Rank #2713
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, GA
National Rank #2717
The New England Conservatory of Music
Boston, MA
National Rank #2712

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cornell University safe?
Cornell University has a safety score of 6.43 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,715 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Cornell University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Cornell University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in NY.
Does Cornell University have fire safety data?
Yes. Cornell University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 92 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Cornell University's Safety Profile

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY enrolls 26,264 students and has a safety score of 6.43 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2715 nationally. This higher score indicates more reported incidents relative to enrollment, though context matters, urban campuses and larger institutions may have different reporting dynamics.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 78 in 2022 to 85 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 92 fires were reported in the most recent year.

What this means for you

Cornell University's 6.43 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.