Outside Sources of Funding

Outside sources are funds received by the student from a source other than Cornell. This would not include sources of funding awarded by Cornell even if they were from another organization (e.g. Federal Pell Grants are funded by the Department of Education, but awarded by Cornell).

Outside scholarships

1. All outside scholarships must be reported to Financial Assistance.
2. Checks for outside scholarships should be sent directly to the Student Accounts Office at Cornell. If the check is made payable to the student or jointly to the student and Cornell College, the student will need to endorse the check. Student Accounts will notify the student to stop at our office on the third floor of Old Sem to take care of this. A prompt response to this email is appreciated.
3. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that each scholarship donor has all required paperwork completed and sends payment as soon as possible.
4. When figuring their payments for each semester, families should only take into account payments from scholarships that will be received prior to the start of the semester, as outside scholarships are only able to be applied to a student's account once the funds are received by the college.
5. Scholarships that are received after the start of the semester may be used to adjust the payment plan established at that time or applied toward the following semester.

VA benefits

VA benefits are offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs, who administers the program. The Registrar’s Office at Cornell is the official certifying office on campus.

1. Students who receive educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs should be in contact with Financial Assistance early to determine how this will impact their package for the following year.
2. Contact should also be made as soon as possible with the Registrar’s Office to ensure the office has all required paperwork to allow them to certify enrollment for the student.
3. Contact with the Student Accounts Office to discuss the best way to set up payments based on these benefits is essential prior to the beginning of the academic year. The Student Accounts Office can assist students to find the best payment plan option based on the timing of these payments from the government.
4. Veterans Affairs handles payment differently based on the type of program a student is eligible for. Many programs send payment directly to the student while other programs send tuition payments directly to Cornell. Determining how benefits will be handled will be discussed when meeting with Student Accounts.

Vocational rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab) in a student’s home state may offer monetary assistance to help pay for college.

1. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Voc Rehab Office where he or she intends to go to school.
2. The Vocational Rehabilitation Office should then contact the Student Accounts Office with the authorization which allows the college to bill the amount the office is willing to pay toward a student’s education.
3. A student may reduce the semester bill by the amount that is authorized by the Voc Rehab office as soon as the authorization is at Cornell. Cornell College will handle processing of the payment with the Voc Rehab office at that time.