
Cornell University is not need-blind for international students. 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. Cornell is still need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent resident applicants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Need-blind for international students | No |
| Need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent residents | Yes |
| Need-blind for DACA applicants | Yes |
| Need-blind for undocumented residents | No |
| Need-blind for dual citizens | No |
| Need-based financial aid for international students | Yes |
| Merit-based financial aid for international students | No |
| Athletic scholarships for international students | No |
| Loans offered by the university | No |
| Full scholarships for international students | Possible |
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What You'll Learn
- Cornell University is need-aware for international students
- Cornell offers need-based financial aid to international students
- International students must apply for financial aid when applying for admission
- Cornell does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students
- Cornell's definition of an international student

Cornell University is need-aware for international students
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. Students who are admitted and have applied for financial aid, demonstrating financial need, will receive a financial aid package that meets 100% of their demonstrated financial need. Cornell does not provide partial financial aid awards. Some candidates who apply for financial aid do not demonstrate need and may be admitted without a financial aid offer.
Cornell is still need-blind for US citizens and permanent resident applicants. The change in policy brings Cornell in line with peer institutions in the Ivy League that are also need-aware for international applicants, including Brown and Columbia Universities, Dartmouth College, and the University of Pennsylvania. The wealthiest three Ivies—Harvard, Princeton, and Yale Universities—are need-blind and committed to meeting the full demonstrated need for all international students.
Cornell University's need-aware admission policy for international students began with the fall 2017 admission cycle. The total budget for international student financial aid has remained stable since the policy change.
International applicants who are admitted and did not apply for financial aid when they applied for admission will not be eligible to apply for financial aid at any time as an undergraduate at Cornell. Cornell does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students.
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Cornell offers need-based financial aid to international students
Cornell University is not need-blind for international students. However, it does offer need-based financial aid to international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. Cornell does not offer partial financial aid awards, and 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 University provides need-blind admissions for US citizens and permanent residents. For international students, Cornell is need-aware, meaning that applications will be evaluated with consideration of the ability of students or parents to pay educational costs.
All financial aid awarded by Cornell is need-based. The university does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students. International applicants who are admitted and did not apply for financial aid when they applied for admission will not be eligible to apply for financial aid as an undergraduate at Cornell. To apply for the university's need-based financial aid program, applicants must complete and submit the CSS Profile by the deadline.
Cornell has a limited budget for international student aid. The total budget for international student financial aid will remain stable, but the university does not offer aid to every international student with demonstrated need.
International students can also apply for the Levitan Family Scholarships, which provide support to five students every year. Recipients who continue to fulfill the scholarship requirements receive support for the duration of their undergraduate studies at Cornell. The scholarship is open to students who require significant need-based financial aid.
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International students must apply for financial aid when applying for admission
Cornell University is need-aware for international students, meaning that applicants' financial circumstances are considered as part of the admissions process. The university provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. Therefore, international students must apply for financial aid when applying for admission.
Cornell University does not offer partial financial aid awards. Students who are admitted and have applied for financial aid, demonstrating their financial need, will receive a financial aid package that meets 100% of their need. However, not all international students with demonstrated need will receive aid due to Cornell's limited budget for international student assistance. The university's total budget for international student financial aid was $11.5 million out of a total of $235 million in 2016.
International applicants who are admitted without applying for financial aid when they apply for admission will not be eligible for financial aid at any time during their undergraduate studies at Cornell. Therefore, it is essential for international students requiring financial assistance to submit their applications for aid simultaneously with their applications for admission.
To apply for financial aid at Cornell University, international students must complete and submit the CSS Profile by the deadline. The financial aid office uses the information provided in the CSS Profile to determine the student's financial need and devise an aid package accordingly. Cornell University does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students.
It is important to note that applicants with dual U.S. citizenship are not considered international students for financial aid purposes. Additionally, undocumented students with or without DACA status are considered domestic students for admissions and financial aid. Cornell University provides institutional aid to DACA students as they are not eligible for federal and state grants and loans.
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Cornell does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to students
Cornell University provides need-based financial aid to admitted international students who have applied for financial aid and demonstrated financial need. However, it is important to note that Cornell does not offer merit, athletic, or talent-based aid to any of its students. Admissions decisions for international applicants are need-aware, meaning that applications from international students will be evaluated for admission with consideration of the ability of the students or parents to pay educational costs.
While Cornell does not offer merit or athletic scholarships, there are "endowed grants and scholarships" that are available. All financial aid provided by Cornell is need-based, and there is no minimum or maximum amount of gift aid that can be awarded. Outside scholarships may replace loan or work components of the aid package but will not reduce the parent contribution.
For student athletes, Cornell does not offer athletic scholarships, but they do actively recruit high school athletes for their collegiate varsity teams. Coaches can support the applications of recruited student athletes through admissions. Student athletes at Cornell may not receive a full ride to college, but they accept this trade-off for the level of education they receive.
Cornell's financial aid packages include student loans, although international students may not be eligible for US federal student loans, which are considered "need-based aid". Cornell does not provide partial financial aid awards, and some candidates who apply for financial aid but do not demonstrate need may be admitted without a financial aid offer.
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Cornell's definition of an international student
Cornell University is not need-blind for international students. Admissions decisions for international applicants are need-aware, meaning that applications from international students will be evaluated for admission with consideration of the ability of students or parents to pay educational costs.
Cornell University defines an international student as someone who does not hold US citizenship or approved permanent resident status (green card). Students with pending permanent resident status are also considered international students. Applicants who have dual US citizenship are not considered international students for financial aid purposes. Undocumented students with or without DACA status are considered domestic students for admissions and financial aid.
International applicants who are admitted and did not apply for financial aid when they applied for admission will not be eligible to apply for financial aid at any time as an undergraduate at Cornell. All Cornell students must have a strong command of the English language to be successful in their academic studies. English proficiency can be demonstrated by being a US citizen, having English as your native language, or having English as the primary language of instruction throughout your secondary school career. Applicants who do not meet one of these criteria are required to submit an English proficiency exam score. Accepted exams and score requirements include a TOEFL minimum score of 100 on the internet-based exam.
Cornell receives a high volume of international applications, with nearly 17,000 in the 2022-2023 application season, resulting in a low acceptance rate of 2.8%. International applicants are evaluated based on their academic strengths and contributions in the classroom, with official high school transcripts required for grades 9–11 and 12th-grade courses in progress. Early Decision applicants are encouraged to submit first marking period grades when available. International students must also submit SAT or ACT scores and are strongly encouraged to apply through the Early Decision option.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Cornell University is not need-blind for international students. Cornell is still need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent resident applicants. Admissions decisions for international applicants are need-aware, meaning applications will be evaluated with consideration of the ability of students or parents to pay educational costs.
Being need-blind means that a university will not consider an applicant's ability to pay when making admissions decisions. In other words, the university does not take into account whether or not an applicant requires financial aid.
International students at Cornell must fill out the CSS Profile to demonstrate their financial need. The financial aid office uses this information to determine the student's financial need and put together their aid package.











































