Affordability

College affordability is one of the most important considerations when selecting a college for students and their families. At Cornell, we believe our Ingenuity curriculum and our distinct One Course At A Time schedule provide a college journey brimming with opportunities that bring a return on your college investment. We also know that college affordability isn’t always equitable and that’s why we have developed different aid initiatives to achieve our goal of a more inclusive and affordable college experience. 

Finding the final cost you’ll be expected to pay for college can be confusing. Use our net price calculator to do the math for you and get an estimate for what scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans you may qualify for to reduce the sticker price. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCENET PRICE CALCULATOR

Transparency in scholarship funding

We’ve made a pledge to make scholarship funding as transparent as possible for incoming Cornellians. All first-year students are guaranteed a $30,000 merit scholarship with the opportunity for additional funding for academic performance, location-based programs, and talent awards based on your interests. Similarly, all transfer students are guaranteed a $23,000 merit scholarship with the opportunity for additional funding.

Scholarships and grants

When you apply to Cornell, you are automatically considered for Cornell's first-year or transfer merit scholarships and awards; no additional materials are required. Just like scholarships, any grant added to your financial aid package is money applied to your bill that you will never have to pay back. Grants are determined by your financial need so completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, referred to as the FAFSA, is important in determining your eligibility for multiple forms of federal and state aid. (Cornell’s FAFSA code is 001856.) Both scholarships and grants are renewable as long as you maintain satisfactory academic progress in your courses, and your need stays similar.

SCHOLARSHIPS

GRANTS

Cornell's first-year student Scholarships

Many families think that the kind of education and personal attention available from a private college experience can be out of reach financially, so they don’t apply to a private college like Cornell. Our scholarships make sure private college is within your reach, in fact, our National Academic Scholarship is a given for all first-year students who are accepted to Cornell. For fall 2024 that scholarship will be a minimum of $31,000 per year, with no paperwork required to apply. For residents of Iowa, Cornell's Iowa Promise Scholarship is a minimum of $33,000 per year.

Making hands-on college opportunities affordable

Our students take One Course At A Time for 18-day blocks, which creates a learning environment that mimics real-world work projects. Our Ingenuity curriculum provides two funded experiences that ensure you can add specific, relevant experience to your resume or grad school applications–internships, research, study abroad, creative endeavors, and civic and community service to name a handful.

ONE COURSE AT A TIME

INGENUITY IN ACTION

HOW INGENUITY IN ACTION WORKS