Understanding Cornell University's Tuition, Room, and Board Costs

Planning for college involves understanding the costs associated with tuition, room, and board. For prospective students, Cornell University's expenses can seem daunting, but a clear breakdown of these costs, along with available financial aid options, can make the process more manageable. Cornell University's tuition is $69,314, and when compared with the national average cost of tuition of $47,890, Cornell University is more expensive.

Understanding the Sticker Price and Net Price

The "sticker price" or total cost of attendance is an estimate of what it costs to attend Cornell for one year before financial aid is applied. However, the "net price," which is the actual amount a student pays, can be significantly lower after grants and scholarships are considered. The net price is specific to each student's circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies. The average net price is $26,455 per year.

To get the most accurate estimate of your individual net price, it's recommended to use Cornell's Net Price Calculator. This tool takes into account your personal financial situation to provide a personalized estimate.

Components of the Estimated Cost of Attendance

Cornell's estimated cost of attendance includes both billed and non-billed expenses. Billed expenses are those that appear directly on your Cornell bill, while non-billed expenses are estimates of costs you'll need to cover independently.

Billed Expenses (Annual Amounts - 2025-26 Academic Year)

Tuition: \$71,266
Mandatory Fees: \$1,004 (includes student activity fee (\$424) and Cornell Health fee (\$580))
Housing: \$13,246
Food: \$7,328

Sub-Total, Billed: \$92,844

Read also: Immersive Pre-College Experience

Non-Billed Expenses (Annual Amounts)

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. Estimated annual transportation costs to and from campus vary by region.

Financial Aid at Cornell

Cornell University is committed to making education accessible, with a high percentage of students receiving financial aid. As a matter of fact, 99% of Cornell students receive financial assistance that reduces their overall bill. Financial aid can come in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study jobs.

Students Receiving Financial Aid: 47%
Average Aid Package Awarded: \$62,720
Average Need-Based Scholarship or Grant Award: \$59,912
Average Need-Based Loan Amount: \$3,315

Key Financial Aid Dates

Application Due: February 15 (The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.)
Priority Application Due: February 15 (Applications received prior to this date will be given the strongest consideration. Still apply for financial aid if you don’t make this due date.)
Notification Date: April 1 (When students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering.)
Response Due: July 1 (The deadline for students to respond to the college’s aid offer.)

Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships and Grants: These do not need to be paid back and can be need-based or merit-based. Cornell will consider you automatically for what we call merit scholarships (renewable for up to four years as long as you maintain satisfactory progress) when you complete your application and complete your filing of the FAFSA. Scholarships can come from outside organizations or they can come from the college itself. Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.
Loans: These must be paid back with interest. You can use the funds from loans to pay on any part of your college bill. Just remember that interest accrues on loans, which means that you need to be aware that you will end up paying more than your actual loan amount. Consider how you will repay the loan(s) plus interest back once you graduate.
Work-Study: This allows students to earn money through on-campus jobs. Work study puts money in your pocket to be spent as you see fit in exchange for working at Cornell.

Financial Need and FAFSA

Most colleges determine financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Grants are reliant on the completion of your FAFSA because, in order to receive this form of aid, a certain financial need must be demonstrated. Read over our FAFSA tips and file early so you can see if any grants will be applied to your tuition.

Read also: Cornell University Semester Guide

Tuition Guarantee Plans

Tuition at time of first enrollment guaranteed only to students making advance payment.

Student Loan Debt

Understanding potential student loan debt is crucial. At Cornell University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $14,000. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $148.

Average Total Indebtedness of 2023 Graduating Class: \$27,244
Graduating students who have borrowed (any loan type, 2023): 33%*Additionally, 6% of graduating students at Cornell University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $63,533 in private loan debt at graduation.

Additional Expenses

Besides tuition, room, and board, students should budget for other expenses:

Books and Supplies: \$1,216 per year
Personal Expenses: \$2,208 per year
Transportation: Costs vary.

Costs for International Students

International students should also be aware of specific cost considerations. International undergrads in F-1 or J-1 status are not eligible for in-state tuition reduction. As you plan for your time at Cornell, it’s important to keep track of tuition costs and living expenses and budget accordingly.

Tuition (Undergraduate, Per Semester)

Endowed: \$35,633*Note: College profiles are based primarily on information supplied by the colleges themselves through participation in College Board's BigFuture College Profiles higher education data collection portal, with some data provided via federal and state agencies. When you apply for student status, you’re required to show proof of your financial support. This page gives an estimate of international students’ typical expenses for the 2024-25 academic year at Cornell.

Living Expenses (Undergraduate, 9 Months)

\$26,986

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To calculate expenses for less than an academic year: Undergraduate expenses = $2,382/month x number of months + $212/semester (activity fee) + $682/semester (books and supplies) + $3,976 (one year of health insurance).

Graduate and Professional Degree Costs

Graduate and professional degree programs have varying tuition rates.

Tuition (Graduate School, Per Semester)

Endowed: \$14,750
Statutory: \$10,400

Tuition (Professional Degrees, Per Semester)

JGSM: MBA (2-year program): \$43,298
LAW: LLM: \$42,361
LAW: JD: \$42,361
MEng, MArch: \$35,633
MMH: \$35,633
MILR, Brooks MPA: \$23,329

Living Expenses (Graduate, 12 Months)

\$31,913

To calculate expenses for less than an academic year: Grad expenses = $2,331/month x number of months + $55/semester (activity fee) + $3,828 (one year of health insurance). Contact Student Health Benefits for prorated health plan rates.

Family Expenses

Students with families should also consider these costs:

Spouse (12 months): \$14,880
One child: \$13,320
Children (above amount plus): \$3,450 per each additional child

Spouse expenses = $921/month x 12 months + $3,828 (one year of health insurance). Children = $791/month x 12 months per child + health insurance for one year: $3,828 for one child, $6,900 total for two or more children. Contact Student Health Benefits for prorated health plan rates.

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.

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).

Paying for College

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.

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