Diversity and Inclusion

“I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study…”,
Ezra Cornell, 1865.

From the time of Cornell University’s founding, the University has remained committed to the principles of equity and inclusion and embraced students, faculty, and staff of all genders, backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. 

The Founders’ intention always was to admit “any person”.   Women took classes at Cornell as early as 1870, and by 1872, women were admitted formally.   The first woman to be awarded a Ph.D. at Cornell was May Preston in 1880.  Cornell was the only major educational institution to which both male and female black students could apply and attend together with the first bachelor's degrees to black students awarded in 1890.

We believe that a wide range of ideas and a diversity of perspectives enhance our research, scholarship, and teaching.  The vibrancy and excellence of our fields are tied, in part, to our strong commitment to diversity.

The Graduate School actively recruits, welcomes, and supports students from historically underrepresented groups, students who may be of the first generation in their families to attend graduate school, and students from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.   We seek highly motivated and capable students whose interests and abilities suggest they will make the most of the programs, opportunities, and strengths that Cornell has to offer.

Nearly all of our doctoral students receive funding to pursue their degrees. Special opportunities for support exist through the Provost’s Diversity Fellowships, the SUNY Fellowships, and the Sage Diversity Fellowships, which are designed to increase the diversity of Cornell’s graduate student population.