
Cornell University offers need-based financial aid to international transfer students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. The university meets 100% of admitted international undergraduates' demonstrated financial needs with annual aid offers that include Cornell grants, an annual work-study award, and reasonable student loans depending on total family income. The amount of financial aid provided depends on the student's family income relative to their country of origin. While Cornell does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid, students may be able to apply for loans through private lenders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for financial aid? | Admitted first-year and transfer undergraduate international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. |
| What is the application process? | International students must complete the CSS Profile when they apply for admission. |
| When is the application deadline? | No later than the applicable deadline. The 2025-26 CSS Profile application should be completed as soon as possible after October 1, 2024. |
| What is the fee for the CSS Profile application? | A fee waiver can be requested if the application fee is a significant financial burden by emailing [email protected]. |
| What factors are considered for eligibility? | Expected family contribution, demonstrated need, and eligibility for financial aid. |
| What is included in the financial aid package? | Cornell grants, an annual work-study award, and reasonable student loans depending on total family income. |
| Are there any restrictions on the type of aid offered? | Cornell does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students. |
| How does Cornell's financial aid policy compare to other Ivy League institutions? | Cornell is the least generous Ivy League institution for financial aid and is the only one that includes loans in aid packages. |
| Are there any alternatives to Cornell's financial aid for international students? | International students may be able to apply for loans through private lenders or take loans from their home country or borrow from family/friends. |
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What You'll Learn

Cornell's undergraduate admission process for international students
Cornell University welcomes applications from international students and is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for first-generation students and students from all economic backgrounds. The university takes great pride in the diversity of its international student body, with approximately 10% of its students coming from over 120 countries.
International students can apply for undergraduate admission at Cornell University through the Common App. The application fee for undergraduate students is USD 80. Students must gather all the necessary documents, including certificates, transcripts, and proof of English language proficiency, and fulfil the basic eligibility criteria before applying. International applicants who anticipate needing financial assistance during their undergraduate studies at Cornell must apply for financial aid when they submit their application for admission.
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. The university meets 100% of admitted international undergraduates' demonstrated financial need with annual aid offers that may include Cornell grants, an annual work-study award, and reasonable student loans, depending on total family income. To determine eligibility for financial aid, Cornell considers the expected family contribution, student contribution, and initial offers of loans and work.
It is important to note that Cornell's undergraduate admission process for international students is "need-aware," meaning that the ability of students or parents to pay educational costs is one factor among many considered when making admission decisions. As such, applicants who do not demonstrate financial need may be admitted without a financial aid offer, and some applicants who require financial aid may be declined if the university's financial aid budget has been exhausted.
International students who have received a need-based financial aid offer from another Ivy League institution, Stanford, Duke, or MIT can submit a copy of the official aid offer to Cornell's Financial Aid Office, and the university will strive to calculate the same eligibility.
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International students and work-study awards
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated their financial need. The university meets 100% of admitted international undergraduates' demonstrated financial needs with annual aid offers that include Cornell grants, an annual work-study award, and reasonable student loans depending on total family income.
All first-year and transfer undergraduate international applicants seeking Cornell grant or scholarship aid must complete the CSS Profile when they apply for admission. The undergraduate admission process for international students is \"need-aware", meaning that interest in or need for financial aid is one factor among many considered when making admission decisions.
International students who have received a need-based financial aid offer from another Ivy League institution, Stanford, Duke, or MIT can have their eligibility calculated based on the information provided. However, Cornell is unable to consider evaluating scholarship offers that are not from one of these institutions or offers based on athletics and/or merit.
Students who are admitted and have applied for financial aid will receive a financial aid package that meets 100% of their demonstrated financial need. Cornell does not provide partial financial aid awards, and all financial aid is need-based. The university does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students, nor does it offer loans. Students may be able to apply for a loan through a private lender.
The Cornell Installment Plan (CIP), also known as the Full-Service Payment Plan, enables students and their families to make monthly instalments to cover each semester's tuition and expenses.
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International students and student loans
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. The university does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students. All first-year and transfer undergraduate international applicants seeking financial aid must complete the CSS Profile when they apply for admission. Cornell meets 100% of admitted international undergraduates' demonstrated financial need with annual aid offers that include Cornell grants, an annual work-study award, and reasonable student loans depending on total family income. However, it is important to note that Cornell does not provide loans directly and advises students to apply for loans through private lenders.
International student loans are available to non-US citizens studying in the United States. These loans can help cover the cost of tuition, room and board, transportation, books, supplies, health insurance, and other expenses. Most loans for non-US citizens will require a US cosigner, which can improve the chances of approval and lower the interest rate. The cosigner must be a US citizen or permanent resident with good credit and must have lived in the US for the past two years. However, there are also a growing number of no-cosigner loan options available to international students at select universities and colleges. Students can use loan comparison tools to find eligible loan options and choose the one that best suits their needs.
International students can access variable-rate loans with interest rates based on an "index" plus a margin that depends on the cosigner's creditworthiness or other factors decided by the lender. The Prime Rate and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) are the two most common indexes used for international student loans. For undergraduate students, a fixed interest rate of 13.99% (15.01% APR) is the maximum rate. MPOWER offers a 0.25% rate discount if loan payments are made through automatic withdrawal from the borrower's bank account, resulting in a rate of 13.74% (14.75% APR).
International students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status can also find loan options that do not require a cosigner, which can be challenging to obtain. Additionally, students can use websites like NerdWallet to compare different loan options and make informed decisions.
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International students and scholarships
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. The university meets 100% of admitted international undergraduates' demonstrated financial need with annual aid offers that include Cornell grants, an annual work-study award, and reasonable student loans depending on total family income. However, it is important to note that Cornell's undergraduate admission process for international students is "need-aware", meaning that interest in or need for financial aid is one of the factors considered when making admission decisions.
To be considered for financial aid as an international student at Cornell University, applicants must complete the CSS Profile when they apply for admission. The CSS Profile application fee can be waived if it poses a significant financial burden. After receiving the CSS Profile application and requested documentation, Cornell will review the information to determine the expected family contribution, demonstrated need, and eligibility for financial aid. Admitted students will receive a Cornell Aid Estimate, which includes the expected family contribution, cost of attendance, and the financial aid the student is eligible for.
It is important to note that Cornell University does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based scholarships to international students. All financial aid is need-based, and the university does not provide partial financial aid awards. The availability of financial aid for international students at Cornell University is limited, and the university has been described as the least generous Ivy League institution in terms of financial aid for international students. International students who do not receive financial aid from Cornell may need to seek alternative funding sources, such as loans from private lenders or their home country, or financial support from family and friends.
While Cornell University does provide financial aid to international students, the competition for aid is high, and the university's "need-aware" policy means that applicants requesting aid may have a lower chance of admission. However, for those who demonstrate a strong financial need and are admitted to the university, Cornell commits to meeting 100% of their demonstrated financial need.
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International students and appeals
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated their financial need. International students who have not received financial aid from Cornell are not eligible to appeal the decision. The university does not offer partial financial aid awards, merit-based, athletic, or talent-based aid to students.
Cornellians consider applicants with dual U.S. citizenship as non-international students for financial aid purposes. International applicants are evaluated for admission with their ability to pay educational costs in mind. Cornell meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need of admitted international undergraduates with annual aid offers that include Cornell grants, an annual work-study award, and reasonable student loans depending on total family income.
International students who have received a need-based financial aid offer from another Ivy League institution, Stanford, Duke, or MIT, may have their eligibility calculated based on the information provided. The components that Cornell will evaluate are the parent contribution, student contribution, and initial offers of loans and work. However, the university is unable to consider evaluating scholarship offers that are not from the aforementioned institutions or offers based on athletics and/or merit.
International students who have received financial aid and wish to appeal the decision should email [email protected]. All financial aid applicants must reapply for financial aid each year.
It is important to note that Cornell has a limited budget for international students, and full rides are rare. The university tries to cover the more extreme cases before addressing the less financially unstable ones. The accuracy and completeness of the information provided during the financial aid application process are of utmost importance, as the university will not be able to honor an appeal for international students who are not offered financial aid.
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Frequently asked questions
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. The university meets 100% of admitted international undergraduates' demonstrated financial need.
All first-year and transfer undergraduate international applicants seeking Cornell grant or scholarship aid must complete the CSS Profile when they apply for admission. You should also complete the 2025-26 CSS Profile application as soon as possible after October 1, 2024.
Cornell University considers the expected family contribution, the cost of attendance, and the student's demonstrated financial need when determining financial aid packages. The university may also consider the student's family financial circumstances and their ability to pay educational costs.











































