Important Information: The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment has transitioned to a fully remote model of engagement. Assistance will continue uninterrupted via email, phone, and our secure document uploads. For more information see our message about continuing operations remotely.
An Emergency Fund, administered through the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment (FASE), has been established to assist currently enrolled students with unanticipated expenses due to COVID-19. For more information please visit our Emergency Funding webpage.
We encourage you to review our 2020-21 Financial Aid FAQ for the most up to date information about financial aid. For more information specific to the impact of coronavirus across the University, please view Cornell's Coronavirus FAQ.
Please be mindful of phishing attempts regarding CARES Act Funding and Student Employment opportunities. To verify phishing attempts, please reference the Cornell IT Security Phish Bowl. Cornell employers will not send electronic payroll checks by email and will not ask students to make gift card purchases on their behalf.
Please take a moment to review the Fall 2020 Statement Regarding COVID-19.
A World-Class, Ivy League Education Within Reach
Ezra Cornell’s founding vision – a university where “any person can find instruction in any study” – holds true today.
More students than ever are able to graduate from Cornell with little to no debt, and about half of all undergraduate students receive substantial financial aid in the form of Cornell grants – this is free money that does not need to be repaid.
After factoring in funding awarded through grants and work-study programs, the cost of a Cornell education may be less than you would expect. And, in many cases, families qualify for no or reduced loans, too.
We encourage you to explore all available aid options at Cornell. Our admissions and financial aid counselors are available to help you on your way to becoming part of the Big Red family.
Application Timeline
November 21 |
All Financial Aid application requirements due
Mid-December |
Financial Aid notifications sent to admitted students
Early January |
Deposit due to Admissions
February 15 |
All Financial Aid application requirements due
Early April |
Financial Aid notifications sent to admitted applicants
May 1 |
Deposit due to Admissions
March 15 |
All Financial Aid application requirements due
By June 15 |
Financial Aid notifications sent to admitted students
By July 1 |
Deposit due to Admissions
October 15 |
All Financial Aid application requirements due
Mid-December/Early January |
Financial Aid notifications sent to admitted applicants
Early January |
Deposit due to Admissions
November 16 |
Early Decision applicants
January 2 |
Regular Decision applicants
March 1 |
Current International reapplication deadline
March 15 |
Fall Transfer applicants
October 1 |
renewal applications available
March 1 |
renewal applications due for all continuing students
May 1 |
Summer Session aid application due
May - August |
Financial Aid decisions posted to Student Center
August 7 |
Fall Bursar bill due
December 1 |
Winter Session financial aid application due
It starts here...
It starts here...
News and Resources
news
To better understand the cost of attendance and access the Financial Aid Calculator, please visit our Cost to Attend page.
For more information regarding admission, enrollment, and graduation metrics, please view the University Factbook.
Our unique financial aid initiatives exemplify our commitment to providing need-based aid and making Cornell affordable for admitted students. To learn more, view all of our financial aid initiatives.
Undocumented Undergraduate Applicant Initiative
Cornell will offer institutional financial aid to all currently enrolled Cornell undergraduate students who had DACA status for the remainder of their Cornell undergraduate program. Cornell also will offer institutional financial aid to admitted and currently enrolled Cornell undergraduates who have been long-term undocumented students who meet our requirements.
Green Card Initiative
Cornell will offer institutional financial aid to admitted and currently enrolled undergraduate international students who have been long-term Green Card applicants but have not yet achieved Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card) status. Undergraduate students who are determined to have satisfied Cornell's documentation requirements will be eligible for need-blind admissions and need-based financial aid like any U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Parent Contribution Initiative
Families with a total family income of less than $60,000, and total assets of less than $100,000 (including primary home equity), will have no parent contribution.
Loan Initiatives
Students from families with a total annual income under $60,000 will have no student loans as part of their financial aid package, reducing the debt owed by the student and/or family after graduation.
Evaluating Peer Need-Based Offers
If you received a need-based financial aid offer from another Ivy League institution, Stanford, Duke or MIT we will strive to calculate the same eligibility based on the information provided. The components that we will evaluate are the parent contribution, student contribution, and initial offers of loan and work.
Please submit a copy of the official aid offer from the other institution directly to the Financial Aid Office.
Cornell is unable to consider evaluating scholarship offers that are not from another Ivy League institution, Stanford, Duke or MIT or offers based on athletics and/or merit.
Learning to manage your money is a critical life skill. Your college years should be a time when you are mastering the art of budgeting and preparing for the years to come when you can save and invest for your future.
We have created resources and offer programs to help you gain these skills. Check out Personal Finance at Cornell and follow us on Twitter @CornellFinAid. If you want to request a program, email finaid@cornell.edu.