Cornell University Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 08/2022)

Cornell University is a private, not-for-profit Ivy League research university located in Ithaca, New York. Degrees offered range from bachelor’s to doctorates. This post will guide you through Cornell tuition, admissions requirements, Cornell acceptance rate, financial aid statistics, popular majors, and more.

Total Cost of Attendance

Founded in 1865, Cornell University has a long list of “firsts”: it had the first professorships in the United States for American history, American literature, and musicology, and the first four-year schools for hotel administration and for industrial and labor relations. Cornell awarded students the first journalism degree and the first veterinary science degree, and much more.

Cornell University tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year was $61,015. That’s up slightly from the year before, as you’ll see from these previous Cornell tuition figures:

•  2020-2021: $59,282

•  2019-2020: $57,222

•  2019-2020: $57,222

Current on-campus room and board (2021-2022): is $16,396 compared to:

•  2020-2021: $15,756

•  2019-2020: $15,246

•  2018-2019: $14,766

Current off-campus room and board (2021-2022): is $16,396 compared to:

•  2020-2021: $15,396

•  2019-2020: $15,246

•  2018-2019: $14,766

For the 2021-2022 school year, additional expenses are:

•  Books and supplies: $1,000

•  Other on-campus expenses: $1,876

Total expenses, on campus, are $80,287, a 1.6% increase over the previous year. Off-campus, total expenses are the same, a 2.1% increase.

Financial Aid

Cornell University is need blind during the admissions process, which means that a student’s ability to pay is not considered as part of the acceptance process. This can help students from lower- and middle-income families who can’t otherwise afford the cost of Cornell.

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 58% of full-time beginning undergraduates received some sort of financial aid. More specifically:

•  Grants or scholarship aid: 50% received these funds with the average award being $52,674

•  Federal grants: 18% received them with an average award of $7,162

•  Pell grants: 18% received them with an average award of $5,234

•  Other federal grants: 9% received them with an average award of $3,980

•  State or local: 14% received them with an average award of $3,540

•  Institutional: 48% received them with an average award of $50,341

•  Student loan aid: 27% received aid with an average award of $8,585

•  Federal student loans: 26% received aid with an average award of $3,924

•  Other student loans: 16% received aid with an average award of $8,357

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

Recommended: Scholarship Search – College Scholarships Finder Tool

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Sixteen percent of Cornell University students received “other” student loans (not federal) with an average amount of $8,357. Cornell provides information about private student loans but does not provide specifics.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

At the 2020-2021 tuition of $61,015, four years at Cornell equals $244,060. This does not account for increases in tuition. Total expenses for a student are currently $80,287. The average for a four-year private institution is currently $54,500, making Cornell 48% more expensive.

Here’s some New York Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Cornell University tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year was $61,015 plus:

•  Books and supplies: $1,000

•  Other on-campus expenses: $1,876

Graduate Tuition and Fees

In the 2020-2021 academic year, graduate-level tuition was $30,042 with on-campus room and board (2021-2022) listed as $16,396. For the 2021-2022 school year, additional expenses for undergraduates were:

•  Books and supplies: $1,000

•  Other on-campus expenses: $1,876

The average graduate school cost in 2019-2020 was $24,000, putting Cornell University 25% above the average. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

Using the Cornell tuition costs figure of $61,015 for 2021-2022, an undergraduate taking 15 hours per semester would in effect pay $2,033 per credit hour. In the 2020-2021 academic year, graduate-level tuition was $30,042. Using the same formula, this would equal $1,001.40 per credit hour.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2021-22

Cornell campus housing cost $16,396 in 2021-2022. The university provides the names of neighborhoods to consider for apartment living and the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,263. A two-bedroom apartment averages $1,825 per month and a studio apartment averages $1,670. It’s important to note that when renting an apartment, the lease will typically be for a full year instead of just the academic year. Check out this resource to learn more about off-campus housing.

Cornell University Acceptance Rate

Fall 2020

In fall 2020, 51,500 students applied with 5,514 accepted. So, the Cornell acceptance rate is 10.7%.

Admission Requirements

Along with an undergraduate application, Cornell University requires official transcripts, a counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations, and a mid-year report. Through 2024, Cornell has suspended SAT/ACT requirements.

Deadlines for 2021-2022 were November 1 for early decisions and December 1 for regular decisions. You can apply to Cornell University here .

SAT and ACT Scores

Cornell University has extended its policy of having no SAT/ACT requirements through the 2024 application process. For those who did submit in fall 2020, 73% of first-time undergraduates submitted SAT scores while 36% submitted ACT scores. These are the 25th and 75th percentile scores:

Popular Majors at Cornell University

In the 2020-2021 academic year, the university conferred 3,849 bachelor’s degrees in more than two dozen areas of study. Here are some of the most popular majors.

1. Computer Science

Undergraduates study programming languages, algorithms, logic, data structures, and more. Electives range from artificial intelligence to cryptography, scientific computer, and more. In 2021, 11% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

2. Biology

Students can choose between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or the College of Arts and Sciences for this degree and select among fourteen different concentrations. In 2021, 7.8% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

3. Labor and Industrial Relations

Cornell University has the country’s largest undergraduate program in this discipline, one that focuses on “people, policies and processes in organizations and the workplace.” In 2021, 6.5% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

4. Hotel/Motel Administration

At Cornell, undergraduates receive a well-rounded education in hospitality that includes traditional coursework along with an immersive experience through hands-on learning opportunities. In 2021, 5.9% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

5. Agricultural Economics

Over the decades, the focus of this degree has evolved just as real-world agriculture has with students now focusing on theory as well as participating in outreach opportunities to help solve real-world problems. In 2021, 4.7% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

6. Biomedical Sciences

Students receive a broad education, taught by professors who research cell and developmental biology, stem cell biology, reproductive biology, comparative pathology/physiology and more. In 2021, 4.6% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

7. Econometrics

In this field, students gain insights into econometric models and how theory can be translated into applications and frameworks for forecasting, measuring, testing, and more. In 2021, 4% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

8. Information Technology

This degree focuses on information systems engineering in the place where information science, management, and technology intersect. Additional classes range from statistics to economics. In 2021, 3.8% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

9. Mechanical Engineering

Students analyze the structure, dynamics, and control of mechanical systems while also studying computer aided design, vibrations, control systems, and more as well as fluids, energy, and heat transfer systems. In 2021, 3.1% of undergraduates graduated with this degree.

10. Political Science/Government

A political science/government degree can prepare undergraduates for multiple career choices: from business to law or public service. Students receive a broad education while also participating in nuanced discussions. In 2021, 3% of graduating undergraduates earned this degree.

Learn more about the fields of study you can major in at Cornell here .

Graduation Rate

Cornell graduation rates are as follows:

•  4 years: 88%

•  6 years: 95%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Median earnings for Cornell graduates total $91,176. When compared to the national average of four-year educational institutions of $47,891, Cornell graduates’ earnings are 90% higher.