Cornell College

Cornell College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1853 in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The only liberal arts college in the United States that operates entirely on the One Course At A Time (OCAAT) block plan — students take one course for 18 intensive days, then move on to the next. This means total immersion in each subject, real field trips, and deep faculty-student engagement. Cornell enrolls 1,100 students and was the first college in the western US to grant degrees to women (1858).

Distinctive Features

• One Course At A Time (OCAAT) — The only US liberal arts college operating exclusively on a block plan; 18 days per course, total immersion
• First to Grant Degrees to Women — First college west of the Mississippi to grant degrees to women (1858)
• Field Experiences — 18-day blocks enable real travel and immersive field study every session
• Sciences and Humanities — Strong pre-health sciences and liberal arts

How to Apply

• Application: Common App | Acceptance Rate: ~61% | Tuition: ~$43,670