Cornell University has educated students from around the world since it was founded in 1865. It is a private research university founded by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. Its founding principle is, “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” Cornell continues to offer programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is New York State’s federal land-grant institution and a privately endowed university. It enrolls more than 25,000 students and has more than 2,900 faculty members worldwide. International students from 131 countries make up 26% of Cornell’s student body. Read the article below to learn about the cost of studying at Cornell as an international student.
Study Costs at Cornell University
The cost of studying at Cornell University varies by degree, program, housing arrangement, and personal circumstances. International students should also budget for health insurance, travel, and immigration-related expenses. In addition to Cornell University tuition costs, Cornell International Services estimates living expenses for the 2026–27 academic year at $27,507 for undergraduates and $37,418 for graduate students. Cornell requires students to have health insurance, and students without qualifying coverage are generally enrolled in the Cornell Student Health Plan, whose cost is not included in the university’s standard cost-of-attendance estimates.
Application Costs
Application fees vary by application level. Undergraduate applicants must pay an $85 nonrefundable fee when submitting the Common Application. Applicants for whom the fee would present a financial burden may request a Common App fee waiver.
For Graduate School applications, Cornell charges international and U.S. applicants a $105 nonrefundable application fee. Financial hardship-based fee waivers are available for select programs and may be requested through the payment page as the final step of the application. Applicants should review the Graduate School’s international application fee information for current eligibility requirements.
Tuition Costs
Cornell University enrolls students from around the world across its undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Tuition varies significantly by degree, academic program, and college.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the standard nonresident undergraduate tuition fee is $73,946. Graduate tuition varies by degree and program, as outlined below.
Bachelor’s Tuition Costs
Cornell University has eight admitting undergraduate colleges and schools, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the Cornell David A. Duffield College of Engineering, the College of Human Ecology, and the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning.
Cornell directs international undergraduates to use its nonresident tuition rates. For the 2026–27 academic year, tuition is $73,946 for students in endowed colleges and for non-New York residents in the university’s contract colleges. The published tuition rate does not distinguish between first-year and transfer students, although actual attendance costs may vary because of program-specific fees, course materials, housing choices, and other expenses. Visit Cornell’s Financial Aid Page for current undergraduate cost estimates.
Master’s Tuition Costs
Cornell University offers research and professional master’s degrees across numerous academic fields. Tuition varies considerably by degree type and program. For the 2026–27 academic year, research master’s tuition is generally $20,800 for programs in statutory colleges and $29,500 for programs in endowed colleges.
For professional and select master’s degrees, Cornell lists annual Tier 1 tuition of $73,946 and Tier 2 tuition of $48,414. The M.F.A. in Creative Visual Arts costs $32,450 per year. Certain executive, business, distance-learning, and specialized programs use total-program or per-credit pricing instead. Applicants should consult Cornell’s Office of the Bursar for the rate assigned to their specific program.
Ph.D. Tuition Costs
Cornell University offers Ph.D. programs across numerous graduate fields. For the 2026–27 academic year, the published tuition rate for Ph.D., D.M.A., and J.S.D. programs is $20,800 per academic year. Cornell reports that 99% of its Ph.D. students are fully funded through fellowships and research or teaching assistantships. These funding packages generally include tuition, fees, health insurance, and a living allowance or stipend. Funding conditions and duration vary, so applicants should confirm the terms offered by their graduate field.
Other Academic Costs at Cornell University
Besides tuition, international students should consider housing, food, books, personal expenses, transportation, mandatory fees, and health insurance when preparing their budgets. Actual expenses depend on the student’s degree, program, housing arrangement, and lifestyle.
Books and Miscellaneous Expenses
For the 2026–27 academic year, Cornell’s undergraduate cost-of-attendance estimate includes $1,234 for books and course materials and $2,182 for personal expenses. The corresponding graduate and professional student estimates are $2,464 for books and course materials and $4,196 for personal expenses. Actual costs may differ by academic program and course selection.
Accommodation and Transportation
Cornell has a two-year residential requirement for full-time, Ithaca-based first- and second-year undergraduate students, including a required meal plan. For 2026–27, Cornell’s undergraduate cost-of-attendance estimate uses $13,744 for housing, which is also the published annual rate for a standard double room. The university’s estimated housing expense for an Ithaca-based graduate or professional student is $19,962.
Graduate and professional students may apply for university-managed accommodation at Hasbrouck Apartments, while some cooperative houses also accept graduate students. Off-campus housing is widely used by graduate and professional students. Transportation costs vary according to the student’s home region, housing location, and chosen method of travel.
Living Expenses
For the 2026–27 academic year, Cornell estimates that a typical undergraduate will spend $7,604 on food and $2,182 on personal expenses, for a combined total of $9,786. For an Ithaca-based graduate or professional student, the estimates are $5,768 for food and $4,196 for personal expenses, for a combined total of $9,964. Housing, books, transportation, fees, and any required health insurance are separate expenses.
The information above provides an overview of the cost of studying at Cornell University. Cornell also offers international undergraduates need-based financial aid and scholarship opportunities. International undergraduate admissions are need-aware, but Cornell states that it meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need of admitted international students who applied for aid. Cornell does not offer merit-, athletic-, or talent-based financial aid. Applicants should carefully review the eligibility rules and deadlines for their degree level.
We hope this article on the cost of studying at Cornell University for international students was informative and helpful. If you are interested, visit our Study in the USA Page and Available Courses for International Students!
