What’s included in my estimated cost of attendance? 

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 items, and transportation).

Are there any other costs I should be aware of? 

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).

If you have unusual family circumstances (such as parental abandonment or incarceration, refugee/asylee status), or if your family has experienced special economic circumstances (such as job loss), please consider using the appropriate appeal process to request a secondary review of your Cornell EFC.

Your aid offer includes aid from all available sources known to Cornell, including federal, state, private, and university aid programs. Your aid offer may be revised, if additional aid from either internal or external sources becomes available. All aid offers are contingent upon availability of funds.

Additional student, parent, or private loan options may be available to finance your expected family contribution.

As a member of the Ivy League, all undergraduate grant and scholarship aid is need-based - Cornell does not offer merit-based or athletic scholarships.

The difference between your estimated cost of attendance and your calculated affordable expected family contribution is your financial need for financial aid purposes. Your expected family contribution, financial need, and eligibility for Cornell grants and scholarships are determined using income and asset information from your CSS Profile. Eligibility for federal aid is determined using information from your FAFSA® form.