Cornell University may be more affordable than you realize. Our financial aid offers are based on need, not on merit, and we meet 100 percent of our admitted students’ demonstrated financial need. Families with a total annual income of up to $60,000 with typical assets for this income range are assigned a $0 parent contribution, thereby increasing Cornell grant aid. Additionally, for families with total annual income up to $75,000, annual aid offers include grants and work-study only—no student loans.

Use the Financial Aid Calculators

Families can use our financial aid calculators to estimate aid offers and expected family contribution. This tool can give your family a ballpark estimate on what you can expect to receive in financial aid from Cornell. The estimate is only as good as the numbers provided, so make sure you include everything.

Submit the Right Materials

The CSS Profile is used to determine your family contribution and eligibility for Cornell grants and scholarships, while the FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, work-study, and student loans. Students who are US citizens or eligible non-citizens should submit both forms. US students lacking citizenship and international students only need to submit the CSS Profile. Additional documents will be requested via your Financial Aid Status Page.

Please note that while the CSS Profile opened on October 1, the FAFSA will not open until sometime in December this year. For Early Decision applicants, we encourage you to submit the CSS Profile as early as possible so we can provide you with a preliminary Cornell Aid Estimate when you receive your admission decision. Then, be sure to submit the FAFSA as soon as it’s available. For Regular Decision applicants, we encourage you to submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA as early as you’re able to. Students admitted in Regular Decision will likely also receive a preliminary Cornell Aid Estimate.

Know Your Priority Dates

For Early Decision applicants, financial aid application priority dates are as follows:*

• November 1 for international applicants
• November 15 for US citizens and eligible non-citizens (permanent residents, refugees and asylees, and undocumented students)

*Priority date applies to submission of the CSS Profile only, as FAFSA will not be available until sometime in December.

For Regular Decision applicants, financial aid priority dates are as follows:

• January 2 for international applicants
• February 15 for US citizens and eligible non-citizens (permanent residents, refugees and asylees, and undocumented students)

Submit Your Financial Aid Application Materials Early

While we have the above priority dates in place, we encourage you to apply for financial aid early. Some applicants will even wait until after they’re admitted to submit materials—don't wait that long! The Financial Aid Office will share Aid Estimates shortly after admissions decisions are available, but that’s contingent on receiving your financial aid application materials in a timely manner.