Please review the International Scholar Award terms and frequently asked questions. Items are explained in the order they appear in your financial aid offer.
Estimated Cost of Attendance
Cornell's estimated cost of attendance (COA) 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 includes standard amounts billed by the university (such as tuition, housing and food if living on-campus, and fees charged to all students), and certain amounts not billed by the university (such as books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation). Your actual costs to attend may vary.
Books and Course Materials
Books and course materials are estimated expenses not billed by Cornell. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower, depending on your coursework and major.
Dining (Food)
The dining budget is based on Cornell’s "unlimited" dining plan. You may choose a more or less expensive dining plan. If you choose a more or less expensive plan, your aid offer will not change. The actual cost of the dining plan you select is billed each semester.
Fees
Includes mandatory student activity and Cornell Health fees. These are expenses that will appear on your bill from Cornell. Student activity and Cornell Health fees are billed each semester.
Health Costs
Cornell requires all students to have health insurance. You will be automatically enrolled in and billed for the Cornell Student Health Plan (SHP). The cost of student health insurance is in addition to the Cornell Health fee and is billed each semester.
Housing
The housing budget is based on a standard double room rate in Cornell University housing. You may choose a more or less expensive housing option. If you choose a more or less expensive plan, your aid offer will not change.
Miscellaneous
These expenses include several costs we know students will incur even though they are not billed directly by Cornell such as: laundry expenses, entertainment, telephone costs, etc. Your actual costs may be higher or lower, depending on the choices you make.
Transition Allowance (only if included in your budget)
Understanding that some students need additional assistance as they transition to Cornell, we have included a one-time transition and winter allowance in your fall cost of attendance. This allowance is available in your first year only.
Transportation
This budget item recognizes that students have costs associated with transportation to Ithaca, New York, for the start of the academic year in August, and back home at the conclusion of the academic year in May. Students are expected to use their own resources to purchase tickets for their round-trip airfare.
Details of the Financial Aid Award
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Your Cornell expected family contribution (EFC) is an estimate of your family's "out-of-pocket" costs for the academic year. Your expected family contribution includes both student and parent contributions. This amount typically is used for expenditures that are not directly billed to your bursar account, but depending upon the amount of your expected family contribution, you may have to use a portion to pay your bursar bill. We assume that you will use half of this amount each semester.
Estimated Financial Need
Your financial need for each academic year equals your estimated cost of attendance, minus your expected family contribution. This is the amount Cornell has determined you are eligible for in financial assistance.
Financial Aid Awarded
Cornell Grants and Scholarships: Includes any Cornell University-administered grant, which do not have to be repaid. This amount may also include any other outside scholarships you have been awarded.
Cornell Work-Study: Students are expected to contribute to their educational costs through on-campus work. Work-study is self-help aid that must be earned. Your earnings can be used to pay for miscellaneous expenses that are not billed to your bursar account.
Please note that Cornell Work-Study is different from the "Federal Work-Study" program that is used by some domestic students. Cornell does not place students in jobs. There are many jobs available, and you are free to apply for the positions that best suit you. Your earnings will be paid directly to you (not your Cornell bill) as a paycheck once every two weeks based on the number of hours you work and your rate of pay.
Foreign Student Loan: If you have received a foreign student loan, it is self-help aid that must be repaid after you graduate from Cornell. Payment will be deferred, and no interest will accrue as long as you remain a full-time registered student, either undergraduate or pursuing an advanced degree. This loan is awarded from Cornell University, so you do not need to contact an outside lender. You will receive more information during the summer with detailed instructions on how to accept this loan.
Tax Withholding
Grant and scholarship aid that exceeds "qualified education expenses" (tuition and mandatory fees) is considered taxable income by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS considers the amount of grants, scholarships, and allowances students receive in excess of tuition and mandatory fees as taxable income for non-resident aliens. When this occurs, Cornell is required to withhold 14% of the amount that exceeds your tuition and mandatory fees. The withholding amount depends on your tax status and whether the United States has a tax treaty on file with your home country.
Cornell's tax office determines an individual's tax status. In situations where withholding is required, you will see the tax withheld appear as a charge on your electronic Cashnet statement issued by the university's Office of the Bursar. Students are encouraged to plan for these expenses each year.
To evaluate eligibility for non-withholding, students are encouraged to complete a foreign national questionnaire with the tax office. Access to the online Questionnaire can be gained by emailing cu_fnis@cornell.edu and requesting a username and password.
If the 14% withholding charge creates a financial hardship, you may apply for an institutional loan from the financial aid office to cover the withholding by completing the Undergraduate Cost of Attendance Request. Include in Step 4 that you are an international student requesting a loan to cover your withholding tax.
In the spring, students can expect to receive a form 1042-S that shows the amount of grant aid in excess of tuition and mandatory fees. These are issued from Cornell University's tax compliance office. You may be eligible to receive all or part of these taxes back if a tax return is filed for the calendar year. Cornell's Office of Global Learning, International Services has resources available to assist students with tax support.
Documentation of Financial Support for Receiving an I-20
If you are receiving full financial aid from Cornell, you do not need to submit documentation of financial support. If you have a balance of expenses to be met from your own resources and/or a family contribution, you must send us documentation of that amount by submitting the Declaration of Finances form, which you will receive in April.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cover my summer expenses?
Financial aid awards are made for the academic year only (August through May, excluding winter and summer session). If students choose to remain in Ithaca during periods of non-enrollment, they need to plan to cover their living expenses accordingly. More information regarding employment in the United States will be available after you arrive on campus.
Is my financial aid guaranteed until I graduate?
Because all financial aid is based on need, you must reapply for financial aid each year. Financial need is determined using your family's prior tax year information, and your need will be met by a combination of grant aid, work-study, and reasonable student loans, depending on total family income, as long as your family's financial situation remains similar year to year. Cornell meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all eligible undergraduates.
As long as you have financial need, we are committed to providing you with financial aid to meet your expenses for the number of semesters required for a student to complete an undergraduate degree. Except for the five-year program in architecture, which requires ten semesters of full-time enrollment, we will provide up to eight semesters of funding. Funding for additional semesters, double majors, or dual degrees is not available.
Your graduation date is determined upon registration with the University, taking into consideration advanced standing credits and the requirements for graduation. Please note that you must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving financial aid. This involves maintaining a minimum grade point average (around a 2.0 for most colleges at Cornell) and successfully completing a certain number of credits each semester (approximately 12).
Is financial aid available if I want to take classes over the summer or winter?
Financial aid is only available during the academic year (August through May, excluding summer and winter session). Students may choose to take classes during the summer or winter, but financial aid is not available. Students will need to make arrangements to fund summer or winter enrollment at their own expense.
Can I pay my bill in monthly installments?
Cornell offers the Cornell Installment Plan, administered by Cashnet, which enables students and their families to make monthly payments to cover each semester's charges. You must self-enroll each academic year. Enrollment must be completed electronically by visiting the Cornell Office of the Bursar's Cornell Installment Plan page.
Further Information
If you intend to accept our offer of admission and financial aid, be sure to finalize your enrollment online.
If you have questions about your award or other financial concerns once you are here, please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment at finaid@cornell.edu or 607.255.5145.