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Graduate & Professional Estimated Cost of Attendance– 2026-27 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 | Varies by Degree Program |
| Mandatory Fees** | $701 |
| Sub-Total, Billed | $701 |
| Not billed by Cornell* | |
| Housing | $19,962 |
| Food | $5,768 |
| Books & Course Materials | $2,464 |
| Transportation | $3,754 |
| Personal Expenses | $4,196 |
| Sub-Total, Non-Billed | $36,144 |
| 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).
New York City-based Graduate & Professional degrees
| Estimated Expense | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Billed by Cornell* | |
| Tuition | Varies by Degree Program |
| Mandatory Fees** | $467 |
| Sub-Total, Billed | $467 |
| Not billed by Cornell* | |
| Housing | $28,856 |
| Food | $6,404 |
| Books & Course Materials | $2,464 |
| Transportation | $1,364 |
| Personal Expenses | $4,658 |
| Sub-Total, Non-Billed | $40,746 |
| 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).
What's included in Cornell's Estimated Cost of Attendance?
Cornell’s estimated cost of attendance includes amounts a typical full-time graduate or professional student may expect for a traditional academic year, before financial aid. The estimated cost of attendance is used to determine your eligibility for federal and private student loans, and need-based grant and scholarship aid in Cornell colleges offering such aid. Your actual costs to attend may vary.
Tuition, Fees, and other components of Cornell’s estimated cost of attendance are subject to approval by the Cornell Board of Trustees or applicable governance bodies, typically in the Spring semester for the upcoming academic year.
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).
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 Graduate PLUS Loans (available to students who began their degree program prior to July 1, 2026 only – learn more) – 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 for Ph.D., research Masters, and terminal professional degrees; or 3 credits per semester for non-research, executive, and online Master’s degree programs as of Fall 2026).
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.
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.