Graduate Students
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Starting your financial aid application(s) early is a small step that can make a big difference.
How to Apply
At Cornell, university funded financial support for graduate and professional degree programs varies by college or school, field, and degree program:
- Ninety-nine percent of Cornell’s Ph.D. students are fully funded to pursue their degrees through a combination of competitive internal and external fellowships and research and teaching assistantships. These awards are typically offered by graduate fields and departments at the time of admission - application requirements vary.
- Research master’s, professional, and executive degree programs offer limited financial assistance. Availability, terms, and application requirements vary - for more information, please contact the individual graduate professional program.
- All eligible U.S. students* seeking federal student loan funding for graduate or professional degree programs must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Learn More about how to apply.
*U.S. students include U.S. citizens, U.S. citizens with dual citizenship, and certain eligible non-citizens such as refugees or asylees. Undocumented students who attended and graduated from a U.S. high school, with or without DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status are not eligible for federal aid.
Graduate & Professional Estimated Cost of Attendance– 2025-26 Academic Year
Looking for estimated costs of attendance for graduate or professional degree programs? Please refer to the University Bursar’s Office Tuition Rates and Fees page to view current tuition rates for your program, as well as the table below for additional estimated costs of attendance used by your Financial Aid Office to determine your eligibility for student loan funding:
Estimated Expense | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
Billed by Cornell* | |
Tuition | |
Mandatory Fees** | $690 |
Sub-Total, Billed | $690 |
Not billed by Cornell* | |
Housing | $16,796 |
Food | $5,654 |
Books & Course Materials | $2,466 |
Transportation | $3,544 |
Personal Expenses | $4,248 |
Sub-Total, Non-Billed | $32,708 |
Total (Billed + Non-Billed) | Varies by Degree Program |
* Expenses for housing, food, books, and other supplies may be billed or non-billed costs, depending on university housing plans and academic program.
** Includes student activity fee ($110) and Cornell Health fee ($580).
Estimated Expense | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
Billed by Cornell* | |
Tuition | |
Mandatory Fees** | $468 |
Sub-Total, Billed | $358 |
Not billed by Cornell* | |
Housing | $24,750 |
Food | $6,310 |
Books & Course Materials | $2,466 |
Transportation | $1,188 |
Personal Expenses | $4,740 |
Sub-Total, Non-Billed | $39,454 |
Total (Billed + Non-Billed) | Varies by Degree Program |
* Expenses for housing, food, books, and other supplies may be billed or non-billed costs, depending on university housing plans and academic program.
** Includes student activity fee ($110) and Cornell Health fee ($358).
Graduate Student Loans
Cornell University participates in two federal student loan programs (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens only), and certifies private education loan eligibility for graduate and professional degree candidates.
The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment processes student loans for most Cornell graduate degree candidates. Student loans for professional degree candidates are processed by professional school financial aid offices (Johnson, Law, VetMed).
To apply for a federal student loan (U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens only), complete the FAFSA form for the appropriate academic year, and:
- For William D. Ford Direct Unsubsidized Loans – accept or decline your loan offer(s) in Student Center.
- For Federal Graduate PLUS Loans – complete a Graduate PLUS Federal Loan Request form.
Federal loan limits and eligibility requirements apply. Federal loan funding is not available to visiting or non-matriculated students or for less-than half-time enrollment (typically, fewer than 6 credits per semester).
To apply for a private education loan, submit a loan application directly to the private lender of your choice using the lender’s online application process. Your private lender will then ask Cornell University to certify your eligibility electronically.
- Eligibility criteria, interest rates, repayment terms, borrowing limits vary.
- We recommend exhausting your William D. Ford Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility, before considering federal Graduate PLUS Loans or private education loans.
- Evaluate your private education loan options carefully before applying – Cornell University does not recommend, prefer, or endorse any private lenders or loan products.
What's not included in Cornell's Estimated Cost of Attendance?
Your estimated cost of attendance for financial aid only includes mandatory fees charged to all students. Fees not charged to all students are excluded – for example, optional course fees, gym memberships, premium on-campus or off-campus housing options, and the cost of the Cornell Student Health Insurance Plan (SHP). Need-based grant or scholarship aid is not available for these costs.
Cornell requires all students to have health insurance. If you are not covered by a family policy or your insurance coverage does not meet university requirements, you will be automatically enrolled in and billed for the Cornell Student Health Plan (SHP). Because the cost of SHP is not charged to all students, it is not included in the estimated cost of attendance for financial aid.
You may request student loan funding to cover the cost of optional fees and the Cornell Student Health Insurance Plan (SHP).
Costs of Attendance Appeals
All graduate and professional aid applicants are assigned an annual estimated Cost of Attendance budget (COA). Your COA includes typical billed and non-billed costs, is used to determine your eligibility for certain types of funding, including federal and private education loans. Your actual costs to attend may vary. To access additional loan funds, you may need to request a Cost of Attendance Increase (annual loan limits apply).
Questions?
We’re here to help! If you have questions about student loan funding, please contact the appropriate Cornell University financial aid office:
- Degree candidates in Cornell Graduate School research Masters and Ph.D. programs, Masters of Engineering (M.Eng) programs, Masters programs at Cornell Tech, and executive Masters programs – contact the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment.
- Degree candidates in Johnson Graduate School of Management programs (including Johnson Graduate School programs at Cornell Tech) – contact the Johnson Graduate School financial aid office.
- Degree candidates in Cornell Law School programs (including Cornell Law programs at Cornell Tech) – contact the Law School financial aid office.
- Degree candidates in College of Veterinary Medicine programs – contact the VetMed financial aid office.