Cody Backhaus

Cornell College

Cornell College, a highly selective liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is recognized as one of the colleges featured in "Colleges That Change Lives." Characterized by the life-changing academic immersion of its One Course At A Time curriculum, this distinctive approach allows students to focus on a single academic subject per 18-day block. The One Course curriculum mirrors the pace of working environments where employees are expected to handle tight deadlines and high expectations on every project, every day. Since there is never more than one course to focus on, faculty can take classes on field trips for a day or an entire block. The academic calendar also immerses students in full-time internships or research. Cornell's residential campus attracts a student body from 42 states and 17 foreign countries. Together, they experience a vast array of off-campus opportunities designed to take them into the world to fulfill their academic and personal goals, as well as a lineup of speakers and entertainment options that brings the world to them. Cornell College is frequently cited as a "Best Buy." 93% of Cornell graduates complete their degrees in four years, and 55% go on to complete an advanced degree.