Study at Cornell University
Experience world-class education at one of the Ivy League's leading research universities, renowned for academic excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and global impact.
An Ivy League Pioneer
Cornell University, founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, is a private Ivy League research university in Ithaca, New York. Unique among the Ivies, Cornell is also the land-grant institution of New York State, combining private university prestige with a public mission of accessibility and practical education.
Cornell is home to over 25,000 students across 12 colleges and schools, with more than 4,000 courses spanning virtually every academic discipline. The university has produced 62 Nobel laureates, 4 Turing Award winners, and numerous leaders in science, business, government, and the arts. Its founding principle β that any person can find instruction in any study β continues to drive its commitment to academic breadth and inclusion.
With world-leading programmes in engineering, computer science, agriculture, veterinary medicine, hotel administration, architecture, and business, Cornell combines research excellence with practical application. The university's stunning Ithaca campus sits above Cayuga Lake and features dramatic gorges, while Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island in New York City extends its innovation mission into the heart of the tech world.
Academic Excellence
12 colleges across Ithaca and New York City campuses
College of Arts & Sciences
Ithaca
College of Engineering
Ithaca
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
Ithaca
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Ithaca
College of Architecture, Art & Planning
Ithaca
College of Human Ecology
Ithaca
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Ithaca
College of Veterinary Medicine
Ithaca
Cornell Law School
Ithaca
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York City
Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
Ithaca
Cornell Tech
New York City (Roosevelt Island)
Investment in Your Future
Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students
Undergraduate
- tuition endowed: USD $65,204/year (2024β2025 β Endowed colleges: Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Johnson)
- tuition contract: USD $42,284/year (NY residents) | $65,204/year (non-residents) β Contract colleges: Agriculture, Human Ecology, ILR
- student fees: USD $604/year
- housing: USD $11,510/year (average on-campus)
- dining: USD $7,330/year
- books supplies: USD $1,050/year
- personal expenses: USD $2,060/year
- transportation: USD $640/year
- total cost endowed: Approximately USD $88,398/year (total cost of attendance β endowed colleges)
- note: Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, including international students. Financial aid is need-based with no merit scholarships for undergraduates.
Graduate
- johnson mba: USD $79,790/year (2024β2025)
- engineering masters: USD $59,500β$65,000/year (varies by programme)
- law jd: USD $73,554/year
- medicine md: USD $63,750/year (Weill Cornell)
- arts sciences phd: Full tuition fellowship + stipend (most PhD programmes fully funded)
- cornell tech: USD $59,500/year (MEng/MS programmes)
- note: Graduate tuition varies by programme and college. Most PhD programmes offer full funding including tuition, stipend (~$37,000β$42,000/year), and health insurance. Professional programmes offer competitive fellowships.
Living in Ithaca
- on campus housing: USD $11,510/year (undergraduate) | Graduate housing varies
- off campus housing: USD $800β$1,500/month (Ithaca area β significantly lower than major cities)
- health insurance: USD $3,636/year (Cornell Health Student Health Insurance Plan)
- food: USD $5,000β$7,500/year
- transportation: USD $640β$1,200/year (TCAT bus system β free with Cornell ID)
- personal expenses: USD $2,000β$3,000/year
- total estimate: USD $22,000β$28,000/year for living expenses in Ithaca
Tuition fees and cost of attendance are reviewed and updated annually by Cornell University. The figures above are for the 2024β2025 academic year. Students should always verify the latest official figures on the Cornell University website before applying.
Funding Your Cornell Education
100% of demonstrated financial need met β including international students
Cornell Grant (Need-Based Aid)
Varies β Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students with grants (no loans required since 2008 for families earning under $75,000; reduced loans for others)
Eligibility: All admitted students who demonstrate financial need β including international students
Cornell is need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International students are admitted need-aware, but once admitted, 100% of financial need is met with grants.
Johnson MBA Fellowships
Partial to full tuition β Park Leadership Fellows receive full tuition + stipend
Eligibility: Outstanding MBA applicants to the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management
The Park Leadership Fellows Program is the most prestigious, covering full tuition + living stipend. Other merit fellowships are awarded at admission.
PhD Funding Packages
Full tuition + annual stipend ($37,000β$42,000/year) + health insurance (typically 5β6 years)
Eligibility: All admitted PhD students in most programmes
Nearly all PhD programmes at Cornell provide full funding as a standard package. Funding comes through fellowships, teaching assistantships (TA), or research assistantships (RA).
Cornell Engineering Fellowships
Partial to full tuition for graduate programmes
Eligibility: Outstanding applicants to College of Engineering graduate programmes
Merit-based awards for exceptional engineering students. Knight Fellows, McMullen Fellows, and departmental awards available.
Graduate School Fellowships
Full tuition + stipend + health insurance for 1β5 years
Eligibility: Outstanding incoming graduate students nominated by departments
Includes Sage Fellowships, Presidential Life Science Fellowships, and diversity fellowships. Departments nominate candidates.
External Scholarships (Supported)
Varies β Fulbright, Gates Cambridge, Rhodes, Marshall, NSF, etc.
Eligibility: Varies by programme
Cornell's Fellowship Advising Office provides extensive guidance on external fellowship applications for both current students and prospective applicants.
How to Get In
Deadlines: Early Decision: November 1 | Regular Decision: January 2
- Common Application or Coalition Application with Cornell-specific supplement
- Official high school transcripts
- School Report and Counselor Recommendation
- Two Teacher Evaluations (from academic subjects)
- SAT or ACT scores (test-optional policy β scores not required but considered if submitted)
- Cornell-specific essays (vary by college β each college has unique supplement questions)
- English proficiency: TOEFL iBT (minimum 100), IELTS (minimum 7.5), or Duolingo English Test (minimum 120)
- Portfolio (Architecture, Art), audition (Music), or additional materials for specific programmes
- Interview may be available through alumni network (not required)
- Mid-Year Report (after first semester senior grades)
Cornell receives approximately 68,000+ applications annually and admits around 8β9% of applicants. Each of Cornell's undergraduate colleges has its own admissions committee and supplement questions, reflecting the university's distinctive collegiate structure. International applicants follow the same process as domestic applicants. Cornell is need-blind for U.S. applicants and need-aware for international students, meeting 100% of demonstrated need once admitted.
Life at Cornell
A stunning campus above Cayuga Lake with two locations β Ithaca and NYC
Ithaca Campus
A stunning 2,300-acre campus perched above Cayuga Lake with dramatic gorges, waterfalls, botanic gardens, and a mix of historic and modern architecture.
Libraries
Cornell's library system is one of the largest in the U.S. with over 8 million volumes across 17 libraries, including the iconic Uris Library and the underground Kroch Library.
Student Organizations
Over 1,000 student organizations spanning academics, arts, athletics, community service, cultural groups, media, performing arts, and social organizations.
Athletics & Recreation
36 varsity sports (NCAA Division I, Ivy League), extensive intramural programmes, outdoor education, and facilities including Bartels Hall, Teagle Hall, and the Reis Tennis Center.
Gorges & Natural Beauty
Cascadilla and Fall Creek gorges with stunning waterfalls run through campus. Hiking trails, the Cornell Botanic Gardens, and Beebe Lake offer year-round natural beauty.
Research Facilities
World-class laboratories including the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), Duffield Hall nanofabrication, and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.
Cornell Tech (NYC)
Cornell's Roosevelt Island campus in New York City β a state-of-the-art tech campus for graduate programmes in CS, information science, and tech-focused MBA.
International Community
Students from over 120 countries with comprehensive support from the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO), cultural organizations, and global programming.
Career Outcomes
Research Strengths
Artificial Intelligence & Computing
Cornell is a global leader in AI and CS research β home to the Cornell AI Lab, Information Science, and Cornell Tech's applied AI programmes. Foundational contributions to machine learning, NLP, and information retrieval.
Sustainable Energy & Climate
Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability leads research on climate change, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and environmental policy β with a commitment to carbon-neutral campus by 2035.
Biomedical Engineering & Life Sciences
Cutting-edge research in bioengineering, genomics, molecular biology, and translational medicine across the Ithaca campus and Weill Cornell Medicine in NYC.
Agriculture & Food Systems
The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences drives innovation in sustainable agriculture, food science, plant genetics, and global food security β combining research with real-world impact.
Materials Science & Nanotechnology
Cornell's nanofabrication facility (CNF) and materials research are world-leading β pioneering work in advanced materials, semiconductor technology, and quantum materials.
Space Science & Astronomy
Carl Sagan's legacy continues at Cornell's Department of Astronomy and the Cornell Center for Astrophysics & Planetary Science β from exoplanet discovery to Mars rover missions.
International Student Support
Over 5,800 international students and scholars from 120+ countries
- International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO)
- Student visa (F-1/J-1) advising and documentation
- International student orientation
- On-campus housing (guaranteed first year)
- Academic advising and programme support
- Cornell Health Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
- Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
- International student organizations and cultural events
- Global engagement and exchange programmes (300+ partner institutions)
- English Language Support Programme
- Career services for international students (OPT/CPT guidance)
- International TA training and development
Your Path to Cornell
Expert guidance from enquiry to enrolment
College Selection
We help you navigate Cornell's unique 12-college structure β each with its own admission committee, supplements, and academic culture. Choosing the right college is critical to your application strategy.
Application Strategy
Expert guidance on Cornell's application process β college-specific essays, Early Decision strategy, interview preparation, and positioning your profile for your target college.
Financial Aid Guidance
Navigate Cornell's need-based financial aid system, CSS Profile, IDOC documentation, and understand how international student aid works. Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated need.
Research & Academic Fit
For graduate applicants, we help identify faculty research alignment, craft compelling research proposals, and navigate Cornell's decentralized graduate admission across fields.
Visa & Housing Support
F-1 student visa guidance, North Campus housing applications, off-campus apartment search in Ithaca/Collegetown, health insurance enrollment, and settling-in support.
Pre-Departure & Arrival
Comprehensive pre-departure briefing, airport pickup coordination (Ithaca), orientation preparation, banking setup, and ongoing post-arrival guidance throughout your Cornell experience.
Apply to Cornell
Free expert guidance β no hidden fees
Hear From Cornell Students
βCornell's CS programme is extraordinary. The combination of world-class faculty, access to Cornell Tech in NYC, and the beautiful Ithaca campus created the perfect graduate experience. The career outcomes are exceptional.β
βJohnson's immersive MBA gave me direct access to Cornell's tech ecosystem and NYC's business world. The Park Leadership Fellowship made my Ivy League education fully funded β an incredible opportunity.β
βCornell's agriculture research is genuinely changing the world. My PhD is fully funded, and the work we're doing on climate-resilient crops has direct impact on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.β
Frequently Asked Questions
Cornell is an Ivy League university (QS #13 globally) with unmatched academic breadth β 12 colleges spanning nearly every field of study. Its unique land-grant mission, stunning Ithaca campus, world-leading programmes in CS/Engineering/Business/Agriculture, and 100% financial need met for all admitted students make it distinctive among the Ivies.
Cornell meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, including international students. Admission for international students is need-aware, but once admitted, full need is met with grants. Graduate students can receive full PhD funding, MBA fellowships (Park Leadership Fellows), and departmental awards.
Undergraduate tuition for 2024β2025 is approximately $65,204/year (endowed colleges). Total cost of attendance is approximately $88,398/year. Contract colleges (Agriculture, Human Ecology, ILR) have reduced tuition for NY residents. Graduate tuition varies by programme.
Cornell accepts TOEFL iBT (minimum 100), IELTS (minimum 7.5), and Duolingo English Test (minimum 120). Some programmes may have higher requirements. Applicants educated entirely in English for 4+ years may request a waiver.
Yes. Educational Hub provides expert guidance on college selection (Cornell's 12 colleges each have unique applications), essay strategy, interview preparation, documentation, scholarship applications, visa processing, and pre-departure support specifically for Cornell applicants.
Cornell guarantees on-campus housing for all first-year undergraduates across North Campus residence halls. Upper-division students can live on West Campus or off-campus in Collegetown and Ithaca. Graduate students have access to Maplewood and Hasbrouck apartments, or off-campus housing.
Computer Science, Engineering, Business (Dyson/Hotel), Biology, Economics, Architecture, Information Science, and Agriculture/Environmental Science are among the most popular. Cornell is particularly renowned for CS, Hotel Administration (SHA), Veterinary Medicine, and Agriculture.
Cornell graduates are recruited by leading global employers including Google, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and hundreds more. The proximity to NYC, strong alumni network (250,000+ worldwide), Cornell Career Services, and on-campus recruiting provide exceptional career support.