Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $88,140. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $69,314 |
| Housing & meals | $18,554 |
| Books & supplies | $1,354 |
| Personal & travel | $2,218 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,300 |
| Total cost of attendance | $88,140 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
State aid: New York residents may qualify for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): up to $5,665 a year toward tuition at eligible New York colleges, for dependent students with New York net taxable family income up to $125,000. Not included in the prices above. New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
College Scorecard
Need-based and merit aid at Cornell University
What Cornell University reported for full-time first-year students in fall 2025.
If you qualify for need-based aid
If you don't qualify for need-based aid
Not reported.
Items H2-H2A. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Cornell University net price compared with other New York colleges
Cornell University has the 111th-lowest average net price of 157 New York colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | St Bonaventure University | $27,074 | 67% | $57,214 |
| 108 | Manhattan University | $27,256 | 64% | $86,316 |
| 109 | Wagner College | $28,241 | 65% | $74,360 |
| 110 | St Lawrence University | $28,651 | 79% | $67,258 |
| 111 | Cornell University | $28,690 | 95% | $104,043 |
| 112 | Colgate University | $28,786 | 91% | $85,139 |
| 113 | Barnard College | $28,800 | 93% | $80,516 |
| 114 | Metropolitan College of New York | $28,882 | 40% | $46,236 |
| 115 | St. John Fisher University | $28,945 | 74% | $66,944 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All New York colleges →
Why Cornell University costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | 9% | $28,690 | 95% | $104,043 | This school |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 4% | $21,590 | 96% | $102,491 | |
| Barnard College | 9% | $28,800 | 93% | $80,516 | |
| New York University | 9% | $37,050 | 88% | $82,509 | |
| The Juilliard School | 9% | $43,571 | 93% | $37,827 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Cornell University would cost you $7,100 more per year than Columbia University in the City of New York, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Cornell University, mostly from lower tuition & fees (−$2,531).
- Columbia University in the City of New York gives aided families $8,432 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, New York resident | Cornell University | Columbia University in the City of New York | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $69,314 | $71,845 | −$2,531 |
| Books & supplies | $1,354 | $1,392 | −$38 |
| Housing & meals | $18,554 | $16,800 | +$1,754 |
| Personal & travel | $2,218 | $2,350 | −$132 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,300 | −$2,915 | −$385 |
| Sticker price | $88,140 | $89,472 | −$1,332 |
| Average grants | −$59,450 | −$67,882 | +$8,432 |
| You pay | $28,690 | $21,590 | +$7,100 |
“+” means Cornell University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Cornell University cost questions
How much is tuition at Cornell University?
Tuition and fees are $69,314 a year.
What is the total cost of attending Cornell University?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $88,140 a year.
What do families actually pay at Cornell University?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $28,690 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $1,776; $48–75k pay $6,796; $110k+ pay $49,992.
How much debt do Cornell University graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $13,000, and 0.9% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Cornell University overview