Cornell merit scholarships
| First-year scholarships and awards | 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Iowa Promise Scholarship | $37,000 - $40,000* |
| Direct to Cornell Scholarship | $37,000 - $40,000* |
| National Academic Scholarship | $35,000 - $40,000* |
| Transfer Scholarship | $33,000 |
| Students transferring with less than 7 credit hours will be scholarshiped as first-year students |
|
| International Student Scholarships | $35,000 - $40,000 |
| International students are not eligible for federal aid. | |
*First-year scholarships may increase to $42,000 for students with exceptional academic merit of either:
- 4.0 GPA plus a 34+ ACT or SAT equivalent
- 4.0 GPA plus 20 Core courses (In Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language and English)
Cornell talent awards
Talent awards are renewable for up to four years like our merit scholarships, and may require additional steps beyond your application for admission and will be added to your merit scholarship.
| Talent awards | |
|---|---|
| Art Award | up to $5000 |
| Creative Writing Award | up to $5000 |
| Esports Award | up to $5,000 |
| Mock Trial Award | up to $5,000 |
| Music Award | up to $5,000 |
| All-State Music Award | $5000 |
| Spirit Award | $1,500 |
| Theatre and Dance Award | up to $5000 |
| Legacy Award | $2,000 |
| Transfer PTK Award | $1,000 - $2,000 |