New York › Educational services › 5,000 to 24,999 participants
Form 5500 statement · plan year 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024
Cornell University Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan
Sponsored by Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. Form 5500 contains no individual account balances. Look up the original filing at EFAST2.
In the plan year ending 31 Dec 2024, Cornell University Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan covered 18,312 participants and held $2.43B in net assets. The plan is a 403(b) plan sponsored by Cornell University of Ithaca, New York.
Net assets came to $132,834 per participant, well above the $64,499 median for defined contribution plans with 5,000 to 24,999 participants and well above the $73,018 median for defined contribution plans in educational services. The figure is an average across everyone in the plan, including former employees with small balances; Form 5500 holds no individual account data.
Schedule C lists 6 service provider organisations paid $5,000 or more, with reported compensation of $306K: $16.71 per participant, well below the same-size median of $53.38. Administrative expenses charged to the plan were $306K. Schedule C does not capture every cost: fees netted from fund returns and fees the employer pays directly are outside it.
Across the filings on record, net assets went from $794M in 2009 to $2.43B in 2024 (up 206%), and participants from 13,561 to 18,312 (up 35%).
The independent accountant's opinion on the financial statements was unmodified (unqualified), from an audit whose scope was limited under ERISA section 103(a)(3)(C) to exclude investment information certified by a bank or insurer.
Compared with similar plans
| Measure | This plan | Same size | Same industry | All US DC plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $132,834 | $64,499 | $73,018 | $53,102 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | — | $2,424 | $2,838 | $2,175 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $16.71 | $53.38 | $95.66 | $123 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.01% | 0.09% | 0.13% | 0.26% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $16.73 | $54.85 | $89.26 | $116 |
Peer columns are medians for plan year 2024 across defined contribution plans with 100 or more participants: 5,000 to 24,999 participants (2,605 plans), educational services (2,753) and all US plans (63,460). Fee medians cover plans that report an amount.
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Schedule C compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18,312 | $2.43B | $132,834 | — | $68.6M | $306K |
| 2023 | 18,056 | $2.22B | $123,123 | — | $64.6M | $217K |
| 2022 | 18,106 | $1.95B | $107,558 | — | $60.5M | $159K |
| 2021 | 17,638 | $2.25B | $127,622 | — | $58.7M | $187K |
| 2020 | 17,193 | $2.02B | $117,229 | — | $58.4M | $143K |
| 2019 | 14,742 | $1.76B | $119,590 | — | $54.1M | $112K |
| 2018 | 22,017 | $1.49B | $67,644 | — | $52.2M | $63K |
| 2017 | 15,111 | $1.54B | $101,626 | — | $49.0M | $38K |
| 2016 | 12,711 | $1.34B | $105,082 | — | $48.0M | $44K |
| 2015 | 12,554 | $1.24B | $99,051 | — | $46.8M | $39K |
| 2014 | 12,425 | $1.22B | $98,297 | — | $44.7M | $56K |
| 2013 | 12,714 | $1.14B | $89,528 | — | $41.9M | $136K |
| 2012 | 11,427 | $976M | $85,381 | — | $39.8M | $5,000 |
| 2011 | 12,357 | $882M | $71,405 | — | $38.9M | $9,000 |
| 2010 | 12,427 | $881M | $70,932 | — | $39.1M | $6,000 |
| 2009 | 13,561 | $794M | $58,531 | — | $46.9M | $4,000 |
Years in which the plan filed the full Form 5500 with 100 or more participants, from 2009. Plan year is the year in which the plan year began.
Statement for the year
- Net assets, beginning of year$2,223,101,332
- Employer contributions—
- Participant contributions$68,622,393
- Rollovers and other contributions$35,568,642
- Total contributions$104,191,035
- Total income, including investment results$387,282,408
- Benefits paid$177,619,131
- Administrative expenses$306,451
- Total expenses$177,925,582
- Net income$209,356,826
- Net transfers$0
- Net assets, end of year$2,432,458,158
Participants
- Active participants12,904
- Retired or separated, receiving benefits158
- Retired or separated, entitled to future benefits5,169
- Participants with account balances12,670
- Total participants, end of year18,312
Fees and service providers
| Organisation | Services reported | Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Inv Instl Operations Co. | Direct payment from the plan; Recordkeeping fees; Account maintenance fees; Securities brokerage commissions and fees | $158,110 | $0 |
| Capfinancial Partners, LLC | Investment advisory (plan) | $81,086 | $0 |
| Bonadio & Co. LLP | Accounting (including auditing) | $34,030 | $0 |
| New Horizon Financial Strategies | Investment advisory (plan) | $11,913 | $0 |
| TIAA | Recordkeeping and information management; Consulting (pension); Investment advisory (plan); Investment management; Participant communication | $10,975 | $0 |
| Cornell Pochily Investment Advisors | Investment advisory (plan) | $9,826 | $0 |
Schedule C, Part I line 2: providers that received $5,000 or more, with the form's own service codes. Individuals named on Schedule C (plan employees, individual trustees) are never shown and their compensation is excluded. Eligible indirect compensation disclosed by formula carries no dollar amount. See how to read Schedule C fees.
Administrative expenses on Schedule H
- Recordkeeping fees$169,083
- Investment advisory and management fees$103,338
- IQPA audit fees$34,030
- Total administrative expenses$306,451
Investment structure
Assets at year end by Schedule H category. The form shows the kind of vehicle holding the money, not the funds on the menu.
- Registered investment companies (mutual funds)$1.93B · 79.5%
- Insurance company general account$418M · 17.2%
- Pooled separate accounts$53.4M · 2.2%
- Other investments$21.0M · 0.9%
- Participant loans$6.6M · 0.3%
Audit and compliance answers, as filed
- Accountant's opinionUnmodified (unqualified)
- Audit scope limited under ERISA section 103(a)(3)(C)Yes
- Accounting firmBonadio & Co., LLP
- Participant contributions reported as transmitted lateNo
- Covered by a fidelity bondYes, $10,000,000
- Blackout period during the yearNo
These are the plan administrator's own answers on Schedule H, Part IV. A reported late transmittal is the filer's disclosure of a timing lapse, usually corrected through the Department of Labor's voluntary program; the amount is the total involved, not a loss.
Plan characteristics
2FERISA section 404(c) plan2GTotal participant-directed account plan2LCode section 403(b)(1) arrangement (annuity contracts)2MCode section 403(b)(7) accounts (custodial accounts for regulated investment company stock)2RParticipant-directed brokerage accounts provided as an investment option under the plan2TTotal or partial participant-directed account plan with a default investment account3DPre-approved pension plan3HPlan sponsor(s) is (are) a member(s) of a controlled group
Codes entered on Form 5500 line 8a, with the labels from the official instructions. Business code 611000: Educational Services (including schools, colleges, & universities).
Other plans of Cornell University
| Plan | Participants | Net assets |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University Retirement Plan for the Employees of the Endowed Colleges at Ithaca | 27,192 | $3.02B |
| Weill Cornell Medical College Tax Deferred Annuity Plan | 16,435 | $1.61B |
| Weill Cornell Medical College Retirement Plan for Faculty and Exempt Employees | 10,733 | $2.23B |
| Weill Cornell Medical College Non-Exempt and Frozen Retirement Plan | 7,242 | $218M |
Similar plans in New York
| Plan | Sponsor | Participants | Net assets | Per participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyu Grossman School of Medicine Management and Staff 403(b) Retirement Plan | New York University | 20,091 | $1000M | $49,753 |
| New York University Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity Plan | New York University | 16,836 | $1.27B | $75,167 |
| Research Foundation of the City University of New York Defined Contribution Retirement Plan | Research Foundation of the City University of New York | 21,778 | $929M | $42,668 |
| Weill Cornell Medical College Tax Deferred Annuity Plan | Cornell University | 16,435 | $1.61B | $98,204 |
| New York University Retirement Plan for Members of the Faculty, Professional Research Staff and Administration | New York University | 23,634 | $5.44B | $230,298 |
| Syracuse University Noncontributory Retirement Plan | Syracuse University | 12,898 | $1.71B | $132,372 |
Defined contribution plans in educational services closest in size.
Questions and answers
How big is Cornell University Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan?
18,312 participants at the end of the plan year ending 31 Dec 2024, of whom 12,904 were active employees, with net assets of $2,432,458,158. Among defined contribution plans that places it in the 5,000 to 24,999 participants band, which held 2,605 plans in plan year 2024.
What does Cornell University contribute per participant?
This filing has no Schedule H financial statement, so employer contributions are not reported here.
What fees does the plan pay and how do they compare?
Schedule C reports $305,940 in compensation to service provider organisations, $16.71 per participant or 0.01% of net assets. The same-size median among plans reporting any Schedule C compensation was $53.38 per participant. Administrative expenses on Schedule H were $306,451. Investment costs deducted inside mutual funds and other pooled vehicles are not itemised on Form 5500, so these figures are a floor rather than a full cost.
Who runs the plan?
The sponsor is Cornell University. Recordkeeping or administration: Fidelity Inv Instl Operations Co. and TIAA. Investment advisory or management: Capfinancial Partners, LLC, New Horizon Financial Strategies and TIAA. The financial statements were audited by Bonadio & Co., LLP. Form 5500 also names the plan administrator's signer and other individuals; this site publishes organisations only.
Was the audit opinion unqualified?
The filing reports an unmodified (unqualified) opinion from a limited-scope audit, in which the accountant did not audit investment information certified by a bank or insurance company. Unmodified (formerly "unqualified") is the standard clean opinion.
How current is this, and does it show my balance?
This is the Form 5500 for the plan year 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024, received by the Department of Labor on 22 Sep 2025. Filings are due seven months after the plan year ends, or nine and a half with an extension, so the public record always runs a year or more behind. It contains plan-level totals only: no individual balances, contributions or names of participants exist in the data.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files (Form 5500, Schedule H, Schedule C) for plan years 2009 to 2025, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. This page shows the latest filing on record for EIN 15-0532082, plan 003, received 22 Sep 2025; an amended filing replaces it at the next build. Medians and percentiles are computed by this site; see the methodology. Report an error through corrections.