Financial Aid Eligibility
The amount of financial assistance a family needs each year is determined by the following formula:
Estimated Cost to Attend
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.
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.
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.
View current estimated costs to attend
Family Contribution
Your Cornell expected family contribution is an estimate of your family’s “out-of-pocket” costs for the academic year. Your expected family contribution is determined annually using information from your CSS Profile and other documents such as tax forms, tax schedules, and W-2 forms. Cornell considers both income and assets in our calculations. Your expected family contribution includes both student and parent contributions.
Income, assets, family size, and the number of children enrolled in college (undergraduates only, at least part-time) are all considered when calculating your expected family contribution. If parents are separated or not married, Cornell reviews each parent’s financial information. Both parents are expected to contribute, and that expectation continues throughout your undergraduate years.
Sometimes, unusual or unique family situations impact whether or how much parent financial information is required on your financial aid application(s). If your family situation is unusual or has changed recently, we encourage you to reach out to a Cornell financial aid professional to discuss your situation confidentially.
Learn more about special or unusual circumstances
Financial Need
Your financial need for each academic year equals your estimated cost of attendance, minus your expected family contribution.
Cornell meets 100 percent of admitted undergraduates’ demonstrated financial need with annual aid offers that include Cornell grants and scholarships, federal and state grants and scholarships (gift aid that does not have to be repaid), work-study (self-help aid that must be earned), and reasonable student loans (self-help aid that must be repaid), depending on your total family income.