Federal and State Grants & Scholarships
Federal Grants
Federal Student Aid (an office of the U.S. Department of Education) offers a variety of federal grants to students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools who complete a FAFSA form annually. Federal grants, unlike loans, generally do not have to be repaid.
Federal Pell Grant
The federal Pell grant is available to eligible undergraduate students who complete the FAFSA form each year, demonstrate exceptional financial need, and who have not already earned a four-year undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree. Pell Grants do not need to be repaid, with limited exceptions.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
FSEOG is available to eligible undergraduate students who complete the FAFSA form each year, demonstrate exceptional financial need, and who are also eligible for the federal Pell grant. SEOG does need to be repaid, with limited exceptions.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG)
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants are available to eligible undergraduate students who complete the FAFSA form each year, are eligible for the federal Pell grant, and whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants do not need to be repaid, with limited exceptions.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Cornell University does not participate in the federal TEACH Grant program.
State Grants and Scholarships
New York State offers a variety of federal grants through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) to students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools who complete a FAFSA form annually. New York State grants, unlike loans, generally do not have to be repaid.
New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is available to eligible undergraduate New York residents who complete a New York State aid application each year, have New York State taxable family income up to $80,000 per year. TAP does not need to be repaid, with limited exceptions.
- When completing your New York State/TAP aid application, use code 0175 for Cornell Endowed Colleges and 0174 for Cornell NYS contract colleges.
- Cornell NYS contract colleges include: the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (including the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, a shared school with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business), the College of Human Ecology, and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
- Students who are eligible for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the Senator Jose’ Peralta New York State DREAM Act may be eligible for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship.
New York State Excelsior Scholarship
The New York State Excelsior Scholarship is available to eligible undergraduate New York residents who complete a New York State Excelsior Scholarship application each year, have New York State taxable family income up to $125,000 per year, and attend a Cornell NYS Contract College. Excelsior does not need to be repaid, if in-state residency and service requirements are met.
- The NYS Excelsior Scholarship is a “last-dollar” program—aid a student receives from other sources (e.g. TAP, Pell, scholarships, and Cornell grant aid) may impact eligibility.
- Cornell NYS contract colleges include: the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (including the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, a shared school with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business), the College of Human Ecology, and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
- Students who are eligible for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the Senator Jose’ Peralta New York State DREAM Act may be eligible for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship.
Other New York State Scholarships and Awards
In addition to New York State’s flagship Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Excelsior Scholarship, undergraduate New York residents may be eligible for other NYS scholarship and award programs.