Students who participate in qualifying Experience Cornell opportunities during the summer semester may be eligible for a one-time waiver of their annual student contribution (a.k.a. summer savings/work expectation) – up to $2,400 – assigned by the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment in their financial aid package for the academic year immediately following the qualifying experience.

Eligible Students

To be eligible for a waiver, you must:

• be enrolled as a first-, second-, or third- year undergraduate in the current academic year.
• submit a complete waiver application no later than May 15th of the current academic year.
• participate in an eligible Experience Cornell opportunity in the summer semester immediately following a request for a waiver.
• be an institutional aid recipient with a non-zero student contribution in the upcoming academic year.

Waiver applicants should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible each year at studentaid.gov, prior to requesting a waiver – preliminary eligibility for a waiver cannot be determined prior to receiving an award notification in Student Center for the upcoming academic year.

Students who receive waivers or reductions via funding support from another university program or external providers may not be eligible.

Experience Cornell Student Contribution Waiver Request form

Qualifying Summer Semester Experience Cornell Opportunities

Eligible opportunities must include a minimum of 100 hours of engagement or reasonable equivalent, if participating in credit-bearing coursework. Example: three credits of experiential learning, individual study, studio, or practicum coursework involves approximately 120 hours of total engagement.

Waivers are intended for undergraduate students who are interested in valuable summer educational opportunities that may be minimally paid, or otherwise not result in earnings sufficient to meet the assigned student contribution from income for the upcoming academic year. Generally, a minimally paid experience is one where your living expenses for the summer exceed your income.

Examples of qualifying opportunities include (but are not limited to): unpaid or low paid internships, research opportunities, public or community service, fellowship programs, or credit-bearing coursework applicable to your degree.

Aid Adjustments

Waiver applicants will receive a notice of preliminary eligibility by June 1, if annual aid application materials are complete.

Approved waivers and corresponding increases to Cornell Grant aid will be applied in early August prior to the Fall Bursar bill due date, after participation in an eligible Experience Cornell opportunity is confirmed.

Waivers reduce total family contribution, and increase demonstrated financial need (you can review these amounts on your annual financial aid award in Student Center). Demonstrated financial need is then met with an increase in Cornell Grant aid or by an available Cornell scholarship. Amounts may vary, depending on assigned student contribution and availability of other grant and scholarship aid. Waivers larger than your assigned student contribution cannot be granted.

Verification of Eligibility and Participation

The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment will verify your eligibility for a waiver by referencing your financial aid award notification for the upcoming academic year, as well as the eligibility of your preferred opportunity with information from the Experience Cornell website prior to confirming your preliminary eligibility for a waiver.

Participation in your preferred opportunity will be confirmed prior to adjusting your student contribution and grant aid for the upcoming academic year. Documentation may be required.

Waiver applicants should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible each year at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA application opens on October 1 the year prior to the academic year to which it applies. Example: the FAFSA application for the 2023-24 academic year opens October 1, 2022.