Cornell College was founded in 1853 by George Bryant Bowman, a Methodist minister from North Carolina with a passionate belief in higher education. Bowman was aided by a group of prominent Mount Vernon citizens who wished to provide educational opportunities for their children beyond the one-room schools that operated for no more than a few months each year.
Freed from the constraints of the traditional class period, our professors go beyond lectures to create meaningful projects, lead off-campus adventures for a day or a whole block, and devise many other types of hands-on learning. You’ll also have the flexibility to pursue full-time internships, research, and other real-world experiences as part of your normal curriculum. And our pre-professional programs allow you to engage with professionals in the areas of health and medicine, law, literary arts, and economics, business, and public policy.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2019. By rating institutions on a scale from 1 to 5, on multiple studies-related questions, we found the top educators in the world.
Learn more about the Global Student Satisfaction AwardsOffice of Student Affairs
As the main office for the division, we are staffed by the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, and an Administrative Assistant. The office oversees the various departments that make up the division, and directly assists students in numerous ways, including:
Cornell's residence halls are more than just places to sleep -- they're where students live, learn, play, and grow together. As a liberal arts institution committed to the concept of a residential community, Cornell College endeavors to develop a climate in its residence halls where students grow and mature to the full extent of their abilities. Living and interacting with students from diverse backgrounds and cultures provides residents with an opportunity to learn not only about new lifestyles and philosophies, but also about their own history and values.
The Bookstore on campus is located on the second level of the Thomas Commons. You can shop for Cornell College apparel of all kinds, including that must have Rams t-shirt.
The mission of Cornell College Student Health Services complements the mission of the college by promoting the optimal well-being of students. We do this by:
The college is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, a town whose urban fringe atmosphere brings the best of the city into a small town venue with art festivals, popular local restaurants and cafés, and quirky boutiques. Mount Vernon’s mix of historic buildings and creative flair earned it accolades as one of “America's Coolest Small Towns” by Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travelmagazine.
Finding balance, having fun, and being an active part of the community are important to the Cornell experience. Students organize and lead dozens of varied groups each year.
The following groups are currently active:
