Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $58,255 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $34K more than the national median. The 48% who received grants paid $26,361 on average; the other 52% paid the full sticker price of $88,140.
- Full price
- $88,140 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Published data end at $110K
- use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- The college's published promise (2026–27 policy)
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $2K a year |
| $30–48K | $4K a year |
| $48–75K | $7K a year |
| $75–110K | $14K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: Cornell University counts all of it, so a valuable home can raise the price.
- A sibling in college may lower the parent share at Cornell University: The number of children in college is considered in setting the expected family contribution.
- Divorced or separated parents: colleges with their own formula usually ask for both parents' finances.
$58,255
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
48% got grants averaging $61,779; 52% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$96,318 before aid
Tuition, fees, and on-campus food and housing · up 14% from 2023–24.
Show the full next-year estimate
- Tuition, fees, food & housing$96,318
- Books and supplies$1,234
- TransportationVaries
- Other expenses$2,182
- Total for a student living on campuspartial: not every part is a number
$14K
≈ $148/month for 10 years
2.2 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 6 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full41%
- Paying it down30%
- Payments paused20%
- Not paying it down8%
- Behind or in default2%
- Forgiven or discharged0%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
ModerateGrants cover 34% of the $88,140 full price on average across all first-years (moderate), more than at 35% of colleges.
$29,885 in grants per first-year ÷ $88,140 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (3,537), 2023–24
About 1 in 2 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $88,140.
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (3,537)
- Federal aid + grants1,129avg grant $66.2K
- Grants, no federal aid582avg grant $53.2K
- No grants1,826pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (1,257 of 3,537), because income is only reported for them.
From Cornell University's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2025–26 (estimated).
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 46%1,744 students | 47%7,489 students |
| Need met, on average | 100% | 100% |
| Need fully met | 100% | 100% |
| Average aid package | $68,147 | $67,602 |
| Average need-based grant | $63,023 | $63,827 |
| Average need-based loan | $3,338 | $3,512 |
0% of the college's own grant dollars were awarded without regard to need.
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2026 entrants.
If your parents are divorced or separated, the other parent also files the .
Priority date: February 15 · Deadline: February 15 · Aid offers: about April 1
Dates for fall 2026 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
International students
Need-based aid offered.
International applicants file: the CSS Profile ().
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2026–27;Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated);Cornell University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Cornell University (2026–27), 2026–27;Cornell University Common Data Set, 2025-26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)