Cornell University Scholarships 2026: Amount and Eligibility

Ithaca, New YorkLocation

UniversitySchool type

Estd1865established year

26793enrollment

Private (Not for Profit)

7.7/10

11 reviews

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Veda Burman

Study Abroad Content Specialist | Updated 3+ months ago

Cornell University scholarships are mainly offered as need-based financial aid. In FY23, Cornell University recorded 407 million USD in undergraduate grant aid. The university takes pride in satisfying 100% requirements of its undergraduate students. To study in an ivy-league institution like Cornell University is a big financial commitment for an international student planning to study in USA.

The financial aid in Cornell University includes Cornell grants and endowed scholarships, Pell grants, work study, and zero or low student loans depending on your family income. The merit scholarships for first-year international students at Cornell University ranges between 30,000 and 35,000 USD (24.85 to 28.99 lakhs INR). Graduate students availing the need-based scholarships do not need to repay this amount.

Cornell University Scholarships for UG & PG Students

Cornell University offers the majority of financial assistance through need-based grants. Undergraduate students receive more financial assistance at Cornell University than graduate students. The details of the scholarships for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate programs are as follows:

Undergraduate Scholarships: The popular scholarships for undergraduate programs in Cornell University.

First Year Scholarships	Award Amount
Trustee Scholarship	35,000
Iowa Promise Scholarship	33,000+
National Academic Scholarship	31,000+

Graduate Scholarships: Merit-based Cornell University scholarships for graduate students are program-specific and based on admission applications.

Scholarships	Award Amount
Knight Scholarship	60,000 USD
MEC Scholarship	10,000 USD per semester

PhD Awards: About 99% of the PhD students of Cornell University are fully-funded to pursue degrees through various internal and external fellowships.

Cornell University Grant

Cornell University grants are offered to financially needful students as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment. The financial aid comes from multiple sources like university endowments, general fund, and alumni gifts. The significant factors of the Cornell grants are as follows:

Students are automatically considered for these funds if applied for financial aid
There is no minimum or maximum limit of grant amount awarded
There is no standard income bracket or cut-off to be eligible for the grants
Students are considered for the grant on a case-by-case basis
The university grants are awarded after work-study, loans and non-university funds.

Cornell University Endowed Scholarships

Students eligible for Cornell University grants can avail a named endowed scholarships for Indian students in USA. These awards are provided by donors, including some Cornell University alumni. Students can build a direct connection with the donors through these awards. A majority of the donors meet or correspond with the recipients of the scholarships. Some important factors of the endowed scholarships are as follows:

Students applying to financial aid are automatically considered for the endowed scholarships
The scholarships are awarded to those students satisfying the eligibility criteria
The endowed scholarships does not change the total amount of grant awarded to the student
The funds awarded through endowed scholarships replaces the amount of award offered by the university grant or any self-help funding like loans, and work-study on a dollar-by-dollar basis based on fund restrictions
Selection for the award depends on the student’s match with the criteria of the donor.

Cornell University Scholarship Application

Prospective applicants, seeking need-based financial assistance, are urged to express their requirements at the time of admission to Cornell University. To apply for financial aid, international applicants must complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) application.

Cornell University Financial Aid Deadlines:
- Early Decision: November 1
- Regular Decision: January 2
- Current International reapplication deadline: March 1
Documents Required to complete CSS profile:
- Tax returns
- W-2 form/ records of current income
- Records of untaxed income and benefits
- Assets and bank statements

Complete your CSS profile with utmost accuracy, any discrepancies will result in rejection of the application.

Cornell University External Scholarships

As observed, international students are offered a limited financial assistance through Cornell University scholarships and bursaries. This stops several meritorious students from seeking admission at Cornell University. To help these students fulfill their dream of getting a Cornell education and degree, various private organizations invest in their education. Over the years, this has led to a significant increase in the number of international students from countries like India, China, Brazil, etc.

Some external scholarships for Indian students in Cornell University are mentioned in the following table:

USA Scholarships

Scholarship Name	Level of Study	Scholarship Benefits	Scholarship Eligibility
JN Tata Endowment Scholarship	Masters program	1 to 10 lakh INR	Below 40 years \| at least 65% in UG; Indian Student
Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship	Masters program	Full tuition fees ( 50% award & 50% loan)	Below 30 years of age \| Belong to AKF eligible country \| Enrolling in AKF relevant field
KC Mahindra Trust Scholarship	Masters program	Varies \| interest-free loan scholarship	Indian student \| above 65% in undergraduate
OPEC Fund for International Development Scholarship	Bachelor and masters program	Full tuition fees & partial living expenses	Citizen of developing country like India; commencing relevant program

You will have to apply for suitable external scholarships before commencing their chosen program at Cornell University. They must remember that each of these scholarships has separate eligibility criteria and selection process.

With Cornell University scholarships and financial aid and external scholarships, international students can definitely pursue their chosen program at this Ivy League institution. Cornell University aspirants are encouraged to explore their funding options and apply for an eligible scholarship and financial aid programs.

Cornell University Scholarships: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 11 Reviews

The college offers financial aid, which is crucial for affordability, though the process requires extensive paperwork. While teaching and research assistantships are available, the J.N. TATA Scholarship is a notable opportunity, covering approximately 95% of costs based on merit. However, the exact details and number of recipients, particularly among international students, are limited and not publicly disclosed.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

Scholarships offered

VueVille Future Technology Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $1,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 1

R&D Systems Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $1,500
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 2

QS Connect Master’s Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $5,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Master
Number of Scholarships: 1

BL Mandhana Scholarships

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $10,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 1

Go Clean Scholarship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $3,500
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 1

Business Administration Scholarships

International Student Eligible: No
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: N/A

Reviews

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Engineering (5)

Electrical and Electronics Engineering (2)

Sciences (2)

Computer Science and Engineering (2)

Engineering Management (2)

Computer Science (2)

Mechanical Engineering (1)

Physics (1)

Once in a lifetime experience : Cornell University !

Likes

Short duration of the MEng program, high cost and location in a collegetown

Found my accommodation via a local property manager found on Google. Monthly rent is $900.

academic: 6/10

faculty: 6/10

infrastructure: 6/10

accomodation: 6/10

placement: 4/10

extracurricular: 6/10

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Saanvi Jain

Cornell University( Enrolled 2023 )BS Computer ScienceJune 6, 2025

7.7 /10

My Bachelors from Cornell University Experience

Likes

I really liked the culture of my college (the cultural activities and people)
The job opportunities that have been provided
Love the career services where they help me with reviewing my resume

Dislikes

Some professors would overload us with work so it gets really stressful
I don't like the fact that its very far away from NYC so I miss out on some networking events
There could be more stress relieving activities due to the amount of stress because of finals and prelims

Scholarship

I didn't receive any scholarship but my friends received a scholarship (TATA Scholarship), which is about 95% scholarship based mostly on merit but I'm not too sure of the details. Not a lot of people in the university receive scholarships, especially international students. I am not aware of the exact number of students, though, as that isn't revealed to us.

For the first 2 years I opted for on-campus housing as it was compulsory. For a semester, I have to pay about $7000. I didn't face any challenges, as the process was randomized to assign rooms and I got a single room in a decent hostel for both years so I didn't face any challenges in searching for housing. The accommodation is within the college campus and about 15 minutes walking distance from classes. Most indian students also stay on campus.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 6/10

extracurricular: 8/10

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Siddhant Sandeep Dhende

Cornell University( Enrolled 2024 )TOEFL Score : 102Chemical EngineeringMay 6, 2025

8.3 /10

From My Mother's Dream to Ivy Reality: A Journey Blessed by My Parents

Likes

Ivy League status with global recognition and prestige.
World-class faculty, many with PhDs from top institutions like MIT.
Cutting-edge research facilities and access to high-tech labs.

Dislikes

Missing city vibes sometime as I had been from Mumbai city when in India
Feels lonely as many of students go home on break
Sudden unpredictable weather in Ithaca

Finding Accommodation—My Experience Search Methods: I primarily used online platforms such as Facebook groups (like “Cornell Housing” or “Cornell University – Indian Students”) Ithaca Craigslist and Zillow Cornell Off-Campus Housing portal WhatsApp groups of incoming students and alumni.
Challenges Faced: High demand and limited supply near campus, especially during peak intake months Scams and fake listings, especially on open forums Unfurnished apartments and difficulty in arranging furniture as a new international student Finding roommates with matching lifestyle and budgets
Recommendations: Start looking at least 2–3 months in advance to get good options Verify listings through video calls or ask current students to visit if possible Prefer staying in grad student housing or areas like Collegetown, Maplewood, or near Commons for convenience. If budget allows, consider fully furnished shared apartments to reduce setup hassle

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 10/10

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Ujjwal Singh

Cornell UniversityM.Eng Electrical and Computer EngineeringJanuary 22, 2022

8.0 /10

Cornell MEng ECE

Scholarship

Program ranked in top 10 in the US. Ivy league school. Shorter duration of masters program. Best Engineering school in the Ivy league.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 10/10

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Shreyas Kotian

Cornell UniversityMS Mechanical EngineeringJanuary 22, 2022

7.8 /10

Cornell University- Dream turned into Reality

Scholarship

J.N. TATA Scholarship

More credits/focus assigned to research. At least a third of the total credits for graduation were assigned for research which was my primary area of interest.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 9/10

0 0

Manhar Chopra

Cornell UniversityMEng Engineering ManagementJanuary 22, 2022

7.3 /10

Cornell in-depth.

Scholarship

1. Small cohort 2. Brand name 3. One of the best program I wanted to pursue.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

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Ujjwal singh

Cornell University( Enrolled 2020 )M.Eng Electrical and Computer EngineeringMarch 15, 2021

8.3 /10

Program is rigorous but definitely effective

Scholarship

No, I didn't receive any scholarship.

Prestige and ranking(overall and department). It is an Ivy school and ranked in the top 10 in the US for my program.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 10/10

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Mandar Sohoni

Cornell University( Enrolled 2021 )Ph.D Applied PhysicsJanuary 25, 2021

7.7 /10

The curriculum is pretty amazing at Cornell University

Scholarship

I applied for a few after joining my Ph.D program, although their results haven't been released yet.

I ended up choosing Cornell mainly due to two Professors here (Jie Shan and Peter McMahon). Their research interests aligned really well with mine. Another, although minor, factor that affected my decision was the availability of many hiking trails in Ithaca. I really enjoy trekking and hiking, so that was a major plus.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 9/10

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Shane

Cornell University( Current Student )Applied EconomicsMarch 11, 2019

8.2 /10

A great college with care for students

A great network to be able to be successful in the future, allows me to extensively train for the career I want. Has a good social climate to be able to enjoy myself when I need a break from the tough work.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 5/10

extracurricular: 8/10

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David

Cornell University( Current Student )Industrial and Labor RelationsMarch 5, 2019

8.5 /10

I enjoy friends, classes and the experience of education.

Scholarship

I have some financial aid to make education more affordable. This would be difficult without financial aid. They are good about aid but the process includes filling out lots of paperwork.

It's the leading program in this field and I couldn't find it anywhere else. Very detailed and good instruction at Cornell's ILR School in Ithaca, NY about 4 hours from New York City. There are plenty of resources.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 9/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 6/10

extracurricular: 9/10

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