Adjustments For Attending Less Than 8 Blocks

Tuition adjustments can be made for students who attend less than 8 blocks in a year, under the following circumstances:

Vacation blocks

Vacation blocks are only for students who are eligible to graduate during the current academic year.

  1. Students who need only three classes each semester to graduate senior year are allowed to take fewer than four credits. For billing purposes, students enrolled in three classes each semester are full-time students and there is no change to their tuition charges.
  2. For students enrolled in two classes in a semester, the charge is 2/3 of the full semester charges.
  3. For students enrolled in one class in a semester, the charge is 1/3 of the full semester charges.
  4. Room and board charges are charged on a semester basis. If a student lives in the dorms for one week or the entire semester, the charge is the same semester charge with no proration. Room and board charges may be reduced for students living on campus for one or two blocks a semester. Refer to Residence Life for more details. 

Leaving the college

A student who is leaving the college permanently must officially withdraw through the Student Success Center.

Adjustments to charges are as follows:

  1. If leaving in the first block of a semester, but after day 3 of the block, a student is charged full room and board for the semester, 1/3 of the semester tuition, and the two required fees (activity fee and general fee).
  2. For a student who withdraws after day 3 of the second block of a semester but before the end of the second block, charges are full room and board, 2/3 of the semester tuition charge, and the two required fees.
  3. For a student who attends past day 3 of the third block of any semester, full charges will remain.
  4. If a student has a withdrawal date prior to day 3 of Block 1, Cornell reserves the right to charge the student's bill for meals eaten while the student was on campus.

A student should talk to Financial Assistance about changes to their financial aid based on their withdrawal date.

For details on students who wish to cancel their enrollment and withdraw their deposit from Cornell, please see the Course Catalogue. The current policy is available by going to the Current Year’s catalogue, clicking on “Academic Information” and finally by clicking on “Withdrawal from the College.

Taking a leave of absence

A leave of absence allows a student to withdraw from Cornell while showing intent to return.

  1. Leaves are approved through the Student Success Center.
  2. The student retains his/her future class schedule and room assignment.
  3. For financial purposes, federal regulations require that students who are on a leave of absence are treated the same as all students who withdraw from the college. To view the financial impact, please review the section above regarding “Leaving the College.”

Withdrawing from a course

A student who is enrolled in a course past day 3 will be charged for the class. There is no partial charge for a block that is not completed by the student. There is no refund for meals missed if a student withdraws from a course after day 3.

A student who withdraws prior to day 3 of the course will have their registration changed to a vacation block for the term.