Cornell University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The University provides what is known as need-based aid. This means that a calculation based on the information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) and Collegeboard’s CSS Profile is used to create a financial aid award for students. Based on these calculations, the University will provide aid to meet the full need of the student.

Additionally, the University also has developed three initiatives as it pertains to financial aid. The first is to assist with parent contributions from families based on income levels, the second is to support the reduction of student loan debt based on income levels, and the third is in support of students that are undocumented of DACA recipients. The first two are tiered programs and the third is for students that do not qualify for federal aid, all to assist in making Cornell more accessible.
The parent contribution initiative states “families with total income below $60,000 and total assets less than $100,000 (including primary home equity), will have no parent contribution and no loans in the initial aid package.”
The loan initiative was updated for the 2018-2019 academic year. It currently states, for students who began their studies at Cornell before Fall 2018, a family with income below $60,000 will have a student aid package without a loan. If the income is slightly higher, between $60,001 and $75,000, the loans will be capped at $2,500. If the family income is between $75,001 and $120,000, the loan is capped at $5,000 in the package. And if the family income is above $120,000, the loan is capped at $7,500 in the package. For students that have begun their studies at Cornell in Fall 2018, the levels have been adjusted so that a family with income below $60,000 will have a student aid package without a loan. If the income is slightly higher, between $60,001 and $85,000 ($10,000 increase from previous), the loans will be capped at $2,500. If the family income is between $85,001 and $135,000 ($15,000 higher window), the loan is capped at $5,000 in the package. And if the family income is above $135,000 ($15,000 higher than the previous), the loan is capped at $7,500 in the package. All of these options make Cornell a very affordable institution for our neediest students.
http://finaid.cornell.edu/cost-attend/financial-aid-initiatives

The Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI) offers programming that encompasses non-traditional students. Programming and support are given to students who are adult learners, students with dependents, veterans/active military, and first-generation students.

Units in the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, which includes the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI), offers programming that encompasses non-traditional students. Programming and support are given to students who are adult learners, students with dependents, veterans/active military, and first-generation students.

Through the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Cornell has recently hired a full-time veterans advisor position. This advisor works closely with the students on the Veterans Summer Bridge Program and throughout their time at Cornell to make sure they are applying for and accessing all of the opportunities they have available to them through their benefits. The Student Veterans Advisor provides support, advocacy, programming, and referral to our undergraduate student veterans while serving as a point of contact and direct link between them, Cornell, the VA Regional Office, Department of Defense, and other federal, state, and local veterans’ agencies and organizations. The office staff member works closely with the leadership of the Cornell University Veterans Association (CUVA), a veteran student organization, and the Veterans Colleague Network Group.

Additionally, the Dean of Students Office in Student and Campus Life has staff that supports first-generation and low-Income students. They work collaboratively with staff in OADI and other units across campus to help develop a sense of support and community for these students. They partner with colleagues in the College of Arts and Sciences who have received funding to create a support program for first-generation college students in the college and have developed a summer experience for students to participate in to assist in the transition for the College of Arts and Sciences.

A new Non-Traditional Students of Cornell (NTSOC) student organization was founded and consults with both OADI and DOS on ways our campus can further support the unique academic journeys of non-traditional students.

https://oadi.cornell.edu/programs/student-success-programs/cdsjp/non-traditional-student-resources/first-in-class.html
https://dos.cornell.edu/first-generation-low-income-student-support

http://dos.cornell.edu/student-development-diversity-initiatives
http://www.oadi.cornell.edu/
https://dos.cornell.edu/
http://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/university-factbook