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Cornell College

EIN 42-0680335 · Mount Vernon, IA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CORNELL COLLEGE OFFERS AN INNOVATIVE AND RIGOROUS LEARNING COMMUNITY WHERE FACULTY AND STAFF COLLABORATE WITH STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THE INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY AND MORAL COURAGE NECESSARY FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING AND ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP.

Income
$87.7 million
Spending
$86.3 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
983
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$439,679, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $57.4 million spent. INSTRUCTION, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND THE LIBRARY:CORNELL COLLEGE, A SELECTIVE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE IN MOUNT VERNON, IOWA, IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE "COLLEGES THAT CHANGE LIVES." THE ACADEMIC IMMERSION OF ITS ONE COURSE AT A TIME CURRICULUM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON A SINGLE ACADEMIC SUBJECT PER 18-DAY BLOCK. SINCE PROFESSORS ONLY TEACH ONE BLOCK AT A TIME, STUDENTS HAVE MORE ACCESS TO PROFESSORS, AND PROFESSORS CAN TEACH STUDENTS OFF-CAMPUS IN WHATEVER VENUE BEST FITS THE MATERIAL. WITH A STUDENT BODY FROM 45 STATES, PUERTO RICO, AND 24 COUNTRIES OUTSIDE THE US, AND RENOWNED VISITING SPEAKERS, FACULTY, AND ENTERTAINERS, CORNELL OFFERS THE WORLD FROM ITS HILLTOP CAMPUS.
  2. $12.3 million spent. STUDENT AID AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: STUDENTS INVEST IN THEIR EDUCATION AT CORNELL COLLEGE, AND CORNELL INVESTS IN THEIR FUTURES. CORNELL COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE GETTING JOBS AND NOT BURDENED BY DEBT, AS SHOWN BY OUR LOW AVERAGE LOAN DEFAULT RATE. COMPARED TO GRADUATES OF OTHER FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS, CORNELLIANS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY OFF STUDENT LOANS. 92% OF CORNELL'S 2025 GRADUATING CLASS COMPLETED THEIR DEGREES IN FOUR YEARS OR LESS. CORNELL'S MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTACE RATE IS 79% FOR FIRST TIME APPLICANTS (2008-2025); THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR THOSE YEARS IS 40%. 89% OF OUR TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENTS BECOME CERTIFIED TEACHERS AFTER GRADUATION
  3. $8.8 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES (HOUSING, DINING, STUDENT UNION AND SERVICE CENTER): FOUNDED IN 1853, CORNELL'S PICTURESQUE HILLTOP CAMPUS CONTAINS A MIX OF HISTORIC AND MODERN FACILITIES, RANGING FROM THE MAJESTIC KING CHAPEL TO THE NEWLY RENOVATED THOMAS COMMONS. IT IS LOCATED IN MOUNT VERNON, IOWA-AN URBAN FRINGE COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED BY FROMMER'S AS ONE OF "AMERICA'S COOLEST SMALL TOWNS AND LOCATED IN THE HEART OF IOWA'S CREATIVE CORRIDOR. CORNELL'S HILLTOP CAFE WAS NAMED THE SECOND BEST DINING HALL IN THE NATION BY BESTCOLLEGES.COM IN 2015.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1935.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.