Cornell University
Cornell University reported $7.48 billion in revenue and $7.61 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.66 went to program services, $16.49 to management and general costs and $0.85 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $9,740,096 (ACADEMIC PROFESSOR - WCM). 8,057 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 46% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $7.61BFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $7.48BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 9.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $9,740,096 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.13% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8,057 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 22.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 58 of 64 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseMedical services, including the training and education of physicians, is a primary component of the university's mission. Cornell is committed to excellence in patient care, scientific discovery, and to the education of future physicians in new york city, across new york state, the nation, and around the world. Faculty and staff at weill cornell medicine, weill cornell medical college, weill cornell graduate school of medical sciences, and the weill cornell physician organization provide best in class research and clinical care that connects patients to the latest treatment innovations and…
Cornell University is renowned for its academic rigor, intellectual vibrancy, entrepreneurial character, and the diversity and quality of its curricula and areas of multidisciplinary research and study. The university's undergraduate, graduate, professional, post-doctoral, and continuing education programs have a global reputation for excellence and innovation. Cornell's main campus is in ithaca, new york, with an agritech campus in geneva, ny and weill cornell medical college and cornell tech in new york city. The university has a significant international educational presence, including…
Cornell has a long tradition of leadership in scholarly work and research -both basic and applied- along with public service and engagement in new york state and around the world. Revenues from sponsored awards include $960,025,000 in direct support and $268,579,000 in indirect cost recovery. In addition to research, which constitutes the majority of this revenue, it also includes grants and contracts to support public outreach and instruction
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACADEMIC PROFESSOR - WCM Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $9,671,082 | $0 | $69,014 | $9,740,096 |
| ACADEMIC CHAIR - WCM Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $6,699,734 | $0 | $51,442 | $6,751,176 |
| ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR - CLINICAL Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $5,895,950 | $0 | $80,291 | $5,976,241 |
| ASSISTANT PROFESSOR - WCM Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $5,710,125 | $0 | $88,757 | $5,798,882 |
| CLINICAL PROFESSOR - WCM Highest compensated employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $4,425,937 | $0 | $79,469 | $4,505,406 |
| PRES. & CEO OF PHYSICIAN ORG Key employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $2,895,564 | $0 | $52,398 | $2,947,962 |
| PROVOST FOR MEDICAL AFFAIRS & DEAN Officer, 55.0 hrs/week | $2,666,653 | $0 | $44,325 | $2,710,978 |
| CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Key employee, 55.0 hrs/week | $2,220,789 | $0 | $1,533 | $2,222,322 |
8,057 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Cornell University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $14M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b64 · 58 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 548,311
- Volunteers Part I, line 67,882
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LECHASE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LLC Construction services | $58,469,933 |
| GEMINI CONSULTING & SERVICES LLC Consulting services | $10,316,641 |
| 575 LEX PROPERTY OWNER LLC Real estate management | $9,465,645 |
| ABBVIE US LLC Pharmaceutical consulting services | $6,963,248 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 302 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
463 private foundations reported grants to Cornell University totaling $80M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Cornell University's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Cornell University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Cornell University spent in FY2025, $82.66 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL · revenue $7.04B · programs 93.4% · FY2025
- The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY · revenue $7.51B · programs 90.1% · FY2025
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA · revenue $6.74B · programs 80.9% · FY2025
- Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · revenue $7.86B · programs 93.5% · FY2025
- University of RochesterRochester, NY · revenue $6.42B · programs 96.4% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Cornell University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Cornell University reported that 82.7% of its $7.61 billion in expenses went to program services, 16.5% to management and general and 0.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Cornell University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Cornell University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $9,740,096, for the role of ACADEMIC PROFESSOR - WCM (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Cornell University get its money?
Of $7.48 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 9.3% came from contributions and grants (including 0.6% from government grants) and 77.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Cornell University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 15-0532082 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631329349305043 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511339349300031 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401319349304360 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311299349304021 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211309349301136 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121269349302507 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 15-0532082: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.