Cost to Attend
Costs & Affordability
Whether you’re starting your college search or adding the finishing touches to your application essay, there’s good news: financial aid can significantly lower the cost of attending. Cornell’s student aid programs ensure a world-class university experience is accessible and affordable for all eligible students.
Cornell’s estimated cost of attendance, sometimes called the “sticker price,” is an estimate of the total costs to attend, before financial aid is applied. Your estimated cost of attendance is based on a variety of information provided in your annual aid application materials, including: your undergraduate college, academic program, New York state residency, on- or off-campus housing plans, and other factors.
Try Cornell's Financial Aid Calculators
What's included in Cornell's Estimated Cost of Attendance?
Cornell’s estimated cost of attendance includes amounts a typical full-time undergraduate student may expect for a traditional academic year (Fall and Spring), before financial aid. The estimated cost of attendance is used to determine your eligibility for need-based grant and scholarship 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.
Undergraduate Estimated Cost of Attendance - 2025-26 Academic Year
Estimated Expense | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
Billed by Cornell* | |
Tuition | $71,266 |
Mandatory Fees** | $1,004 |
Housing | $13,246 |
Food | $7,328 |
Sub-Total, Billed | $92,844 |
Not billed by Cornell* | |
Books & Course Materials | $1,216 |
Personal Expenses | $2,208 |
Transportation*** | Varies |
Sub-Total, Non-Billed | $3,424 |
Total, (Billed + Non-Billed) | $96,268 |
*Expenses for housing, food, books, and other supplies may be billed or non-billed costs, depending on housing plans and participation in Cornell's Academic Materials Program.
**Includes student activity fee ($424) and Cornell Health fee ($580).
***Estimated annual transportation costs to and from campus vary by region.
2023-24 Estimated Cost of Attendance for NY State Contract Colleges: Non-NY Residents
Estimated Expense | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
Billed by Cornell* | |
Tuition | $71,266 |
Mandatory Fees** | $1,004 |
Housing | $13,246 |
Food | $7,328 |
Sub-Total, Billed | $92,844 |
Not billed by Cornell* | |
Books & Course Materials | $1,216 |
Personal Expenses | $2,208 |
Transportation*** | Varies |
Sub-Total, Non-Billed | $3,424 |
Total, (Billed + Non-Billed) | $96,268 |
*Expenses for housing, food, books, and other supplies may be billed or non-billed costs, depending on housing plans and participation in Cornell's Academic Materials Program.
**Includes student activity fee ($424) and Cornell Health fee ($580).
***Estimated annual transportation costs to and from campus vary by region.
2023-24 Estimated Cost of Attendance for NY State Contract Colleges: NY Residents
Estimated Expense | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
Billed by Cornell* | |
Tuition | $48,010 |
Mandatory Fees** | $1,004 |
Housing | $13,246 |
Food | $7,328 |
Sub-Total, Billed | $69,588 |
Not billed by Cornell* | |
Books & Course Materials | $1,216 |
Personal Expenses | $2,208 |
Transportation*** | Varies |
Sub-Total, Non-Billed | $3,424 |
Total, (Billed + Non-Billed) | $73,012 |
*Expenses for housing, food, books, and other supplies may be billed or non-billed costs, depending on housing plans and participation in Cornell's Academic Materials Program.
**Includes student activity fee ($424) and Cornell Health fee ($580).
***Estimated annual transportation costs to and from campus vary by region.
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).
Undergraduate Tuition at Cornell Endowed vs. NY State Contract Colleges and Schools
Several of Cornell’s undergraduate colleges and schools are established by an act of the New York State Legislature, are operated by Cornell, and receive direct funding under contract with New York State. New York residents attending undergraduate programs in Cornell’s NY State contract colleges and schools are eligible for the NY state contract college tuition rate.
Cornell’s NY State contract college tuition rate applies to undergraduate programs in:
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management*
- College of Human Ecology
- School of Industrial and Labor Relations
- Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy** (Bachelor of Science candidates only)
Cornell’s endowed college tuition rate applies to undergraduate programs in:
- College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Engineering
- SC Johnson College of Business
- Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration
- Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy**
*The Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management is a shared school between the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
**The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy is a hybrid academic unit that partners with contract and endowed colleges to offer undergraduate programs.
Graduate & Professional Estimated Costs of Attendance
Looking for estimated costs of attendance for Cornell graduate or professional schools? Please visit the Graduate and Professional Schools costs of attendance page.