Applying to college in the United States as an international student can be an expensive endeavor. Thankfully, Cornell University offers numerous scholarships specifically for international undergraduate and graduate students.
These scholarships help offset the cost of tuition, fees, room and board and other expenses. This article explores the various Cornell University scholarships available in 2024, eligibility criteria, award amounts and how to apply.
Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, is one of the top universities not just in the U.S. but around the world. Its programs and professors are world-renowned. An added appeal for international students is that nearly 25% of Cornell’s student body comes from abroad, making for a diverse and welcoming campus.
However, as an Ivy League school, the cost to attend Cornell is steep for out-of-state and international students alike. Thankfully, Cornell offers an array of scholarships specifically targeted at high-achieving international applicants to lessen the financial burden of enrollment. These scholarships have different criteria, award amounts, academic programs covered and application processes. Read on to learn all about the chance available.
Cornell Presidential Scholarships
The Cornell Presidential Scholarships are awarded to the most academically exceptional international first-year applicants to Cornell. There are three levels of Presidential Scholarships:
- Full Tuition Scholarships – Covers 100% of Cornell tuition, fees, room and board for all four years of undergraduate study, provided academic performance standards are met. Eight of these are awarded per year.
- Partial Tuition Scholarships – Covers between $25,000 to $55,000 per year of tuition and fees, depending on financial need. Approximately 25 Partial Scholarships are awarded annually.
- Scholar Award – A one-time $5,000 award to about 100 incoming first-years who show extraordinary academic talent but may not qualify for the two higher scholarship tiers.
To qualify, you must apply for undergraduate admission by the early decision deadline of November 1st or regular decision deadline of January 2nd. Finalists complete additional application materials and may be interviewed. Selection is based on academic excellence, extracurricular distinction and potential for impact. These scholarships are incredibly competitive – only the best-of-the-best international applicants receive them.
College-Specific Scholarships
Beyond institution-wide scholarships like the Presidential ones outlined above, many of Cornell’s undergraduate colleges offer scholarships specifically for international students as well:
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – Awards 12 international students $5,000 to $25,000 scholarships each year. Selection is based on merit and financial need.
- College of Architecture, Art and Planning – Offers the Tony Gee Memorial Scholarship of $5,000 per year to one incoming international first-year student plus the Xiangming Li Memorial Scholarship which covers half of tuition.
- College of Arts and Sciences – Home to the Robertson Scholarship Program which fully funds two international students per year to earn any Arts and Sciences major at Cornell alongside a second degree at Duke University.
- College of Engineering – Awards approximately 20 scholarships per year to international first-years ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 annually, with some covering full tuition and fees. The Wu Family Scholarship also fully funds one female international engineering major each year.
- College of Human Ecology – Offers 5 Premier Scholarships annually that cover full tuition plus a one-time $7,500 award to top applicants from countries with emerging economies.
- SC Johnson College of Business – Provides 70 Emerging Markets Scholarships each year to high-achieving business students from less developed nations that cover up to full tuition and fees.
As you can see, Cornell’s individual undergraduate colleges provide substantial international scholarship support in fields from technology to nutrition to business and beyond.
Graduate & Professional School Funding
Beyond undergraduate programs, Cornell’s prestigious graduate and professional schools also award funding to offset international student tuition which can approach or exceed $60,000 per year. These come mainly in the form of fellowships and assistantships which combine tuition coverage with a living stipend in exchange for teaching, research or other work:
- Cornell Law School – Handful of full-tuition International Law Scholarships plus AnBryce Scholarships covering half tuition for foreign-educated lawyers seeking an LL.M. Work assistantships also available.
- Weill Cornell Medicine – Extremely limited financial aid but some funding for research assistant roles may cover tuition and provide a stipend.
- Cornell Tech – The Joan & Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute provides fellowships and assistantships funding full tuition plus $35,000 stipends to half of enrolled students.
- Vet School – Offers occasional clinical practice assistantships or lab positions that provide free tuition. Extremely competitive.
- Graduate School – Awards full or half tuition fellowships plus $22,000 to $30,000 stipends annually to over 100 Ph.D. and master’s students across fields like engineering, sciences, social sciences and humanities.
Clearly the opportunities differ across Cornell’s graduate domains, but all strive to attract top international talent by easing the tuition burden via merit-based fellowships and work programs with competitive stipends.
External Scholarship Sources
Beyond Cornell’s own institutional aid programs outlined above, many external organizations and foreign governments also provide scholarships to fund international students wishing to study at Cornell or other U.S. universities:
- Fulbright Program – Prestigious and highly competitive U.S. government-funded program brings over 4,000 international students per year to complete postgraduate and doctoral programs at American universities. Cornell averages 20-30 Fulbright Scholars annually who receive full funding.
- Scholarships from Home Governments – Over 60 countries including Brazil, China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and more run national scholarship programs sending students abroad. Search what’s available from ministries of education or science/tech councils in your country.
- Philanthropic Organizations – Groups like the Open Society Foundation, Winston Foundation, Leverhulme Trust, and universities’ own donor funds offer hundreds of thousands in scholarship monies yearly to postgrads and young researchers of particular backgrounds or study interests.
- Employer Sponsorship – If employed, check if your organization offers further education subsidies or study leave programs to fund a Cornell master’s or Ph.D. that aligns with your professional goals.
With some digging, international students may discover many external funding options beyond Cornell too, significantly offsetting the high tuition costs.
Key Application Tips
Competing for top merit scholarships as an international student takes meticulous preparation and putting your best foot forward. Here are some vital tips when applying for Cornell financial aid programs:
- Start early – Begin researching and applying for scholarships 12-18 months before you plan to start at Cornell, as deadlines are often early.
- Get organized – Track deadlines, requirements and application components for each scholarship in a spreadsheet to stay on top.
- Follow instructions – Carefully abide by all guidelines around supplemental info, letters of rec, essays, interview timing and formats specific to each award.
- Highlight achievements – Use essays and interviews to illustrate outstanding academics, forward-thinking research, significant extracurricular leadership, nonprofit work or professional accomplishments. Quantify your impact.
- Demonstrate need – For need-based aid, emphasize barriers you’ve overcome and fully disclose your family’s financial position.
- Ace academics – Top grades and test scores are key for merit-based scholarships so maintain academic excellence from secondary school onwards.
While applying takes effort and discipline, it pays dividends in securing generous funding that makes an Ivy League education accessible.
Conclusion
Cornell University offers over 200 degree programs across diverse disciplines and provides unique access to leading research facilities and distinguished professors. Cornell sets itself apart for international students by offering numerous scholarships to attract top global talent regardless of their ability to pay the full tuition and costs.
Hundreds of merit and need-based scholarships specifically target international applicants – from the elite full-ride Presidential Scholarships to those funding specific undergraduate majors and nationalities. At the graduate level, programs across Cornell’s professional schools provide fellowships and assistantships covering tuition and living costs in exchange for teaching or research duties. Plus external government, organizational and employer funding can supplement Cornell’s offerings.
Competing for these scholarships is intense, but proper preparation, following application directions closely and highlighting one’s outstanding academic and extracurricular feats can help secure funding and make a Cornell degree financially viable for international students. The time and effort invested is well worth accessing a top-tier Ivy League education.
Website
To learn more about Cornell University’s Financial Aid for International Students, please visit the official website:
