Cornell's National Academic Scholarship: $35,000 - $40,000
Who is eligible for this scholarship?
Any first-year, full-time, residential student living in the United States
That’s it. Admission to Cornell College immediately qualifies first-year students for a minimum $35,000 National Academic Award for fall 2026 that is renewable for up to 4 years if you maintain satisfactory academic progress. It is possible for high-achieving scholars and students engaging in the fine arts, esports or mock trial to qualify for more than $35,000 in scholarships.
- Full-time status means that you attend at least three blocks (of four offered) every semester. This includes blocks where you participate in off-campus study or internships.
- Residential means that you will be required to live and dine on campus each year.
- First-year means that you are in your first year of college and not transferring from another college to Cornell. If you have taken college credit while in high school, you still qualify for the scholarship.
Additional merit scholarships: Iowa Promise Scholarship and Direct to Cornell scholarship.
The cost to attend Cornell is closer to the cost of a state school than you might think.
With your National Merit Scholarship your cost to attend Cornell will be reduced to $34,766 and could be even lower if you qualify for federal aid, talent scholarships, or an increased academic award.
How do we calculate Cost of Attendance? Here's the cost of attendance breakdown.
To compare us to schools in your home state, search for their cost of attendance page and you can compare us to them. Note that Cornell doesn't charge more for out of state students, but if you consider going to a public institution outside of your home state, you may pay a higher out of state tuition rate.
Why are we up front about your minimum scholarship from Cornell?
The goal of the National Academic Scholarship is to ensure a private college experience is accessible to as many students as possible. Without a lot of experience in how college systems and financial assistance programs work, many families don't realize that a private college experience is within their reach financially.
Find the campus that fits your style of learning
For students who thrive on personal attention, focused learning, and flexibility, a small private college might be where you will find the most personal success in completing your degree, discovering leadership opportunities, and building a lifelong network of friends and future colleagues. Your success is important to us, so we want to make sure that your best college experience is within reach for you.
Your first weeks are an important transition time
The first week on a campus of tens of thousands of students can be overwhelming. Cornell's first-year experience is dedicated to you, surrounding you with a support team of faculty and peers dedicated to your success. One Course At A Time is a method of learning that builds immediate connections—you get to know your classmates, which our students have termed “block friends,” right away because you’re in a class with no more than 24 other students for three and half weeks. In every class, you'll find that your professor will know your name, and engages with you, by the end of your first day of class. (This happens in every class you take here.)
Enjoy a great experience on a safe campus
Living at Cornell also offers you the safety of a residential campus where your two-person room is within easy walking distance of class, athletics, and social activities. The average daily commute to class? About 5 minutes.
Financial aid, tailored to you
Your final financial aid award package will vary based on your individual need and circumstances. Our financial aid counselors are here to help you with any questions you might have about your financial aid package or you can use our Net Price Calculator to get a snapshot of what you might pay as we adjust to the new FAFSA process this year.