Cornell University Scholarships for Indian Students: Types, Applications, Benefits

Cornell University scholarships are mainly offered as need-based financial aid. In FY23, Cornell University recorded 407 million USD in undergraduate grant aid. The university takes pride in satisfying 100% requirements of its undergraduate students. To study in an ivy-league institution like Cornell University is a big financial commitment for an international student planning to study in USA.

The financial aid in Cornell University includes Cornell grants and endowed scholarships, Pell grants, work study, and zero or low student loans depending on your family income. The merit scholarships for first-year international students at Cornell University ranges between 30,000 and 35,000 USD (24.85 to 28.99 lakhs INR). Graduate students availing the need-based scholarships do not need to repay this amount.

Cornell University Scholarships for UG & PG Students

Cornell University offers the majority of financial assistance through need-based grants. Undergraduate students receive more financial assistance at Cornell University than graduate students. The details of the scholarships for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate programs are as follows:

Undergraduate Scholarships: The popular scholarships for undergraduate programs in Cornell University.

Graduate Scholarships: Merit-based Cornell University scholarships for graduate students are program-specific and based on admission applications.

PhD Awards: About 99% of the PhD students of Cornell University are fully-funded to pursue degrees through various internal and external fellowships.

Cornell University Grant

Cornell University grants are offered to financially needful students as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment. The financial aid comes from multiple sources like university endowments, general fund, and alumni gifts. The significant factors of the Cornell grants are as follows:

• Students are automatically considered for these funds if applied for financial aid
• There is no minimum or maximum limit of grant amount awarded
• There is no standard income bracket or cut-off to be eligible for the grants
• Students are considered for the grant on a case-by-case basis
• The university grants are awarded after work-study, loans and non-university funds.

Check out: Cornell University Scholarships (Spanish)

Cornell University Endowed Scholarships

Students eligible for Cornell University grants can avail a named endowed scholarships for Indian students in USA. These awards are provided by donors, including some Cornell University alumni. Students can build a direct connection with the donors through these awards. A majority of the donors meet or correspond with the recipients of the scholarships. Some important factors of the endowed scholarships are as follows:

• Students applying to financial aid are automatically considered for the endowed scholarships
• The scholarships are awarded to those students satisfying the eligibility criteria
• The endowed scholarships does not change the total amount of grant awarded to the student
• The funds awarded through endowed scholarships replaces the amount of award offered by the university grant or any self-help funding like loans, and work-study on a dollar-by-dollar basis based on fund restrictions
• Selection for the award depends on the student’s match with the criteria of the donor. 

Cornell University Scholarship Application

Prospective applicants, seeking need-based financial assistance, are urged to express their requirements at the time of admission to Cornell University. To apply for financial aid, international applicants must complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) application.

• Cornell University Financial Aid Deadlines:
  • Early Decision: November 1
  • Regular Decision: January 2
  • Current International reapplication deadline: March 1
• Documents Required to complete CSS profile:
  • Tax returns
  • W-2 form/ records of current income
  • Records of untaxed income and benefits
  • Assets and bank statements

Complete your CSS profile with utmost accuracy, any discrepancies will result in rejection of the application.

Cornell University External Scholarships

As observed, international students are offered a limited financial assistance through Cornell University scholarships and bursaries. This stops several meritorious students from seeking admission at Cornell University. To help these students fulfill their dream of getting a Cornell education and degree, various private organizations invest in their education. Over the years, this has led to a significant increase in the number of international students from countries like India, China, Brazil, etc.

Some external scholarships for Indian students in Cornell University are mentioned in the following table:

You will have to apply for suitable external scholarships before commencing their chosen program at Cornell University. They must remember that each of these scholarships has separate eligibility criteria and selection process.

With Cornell University scholarships and financial aid and external scholarships, international students can definitely pursue their chosen program at this Ivy League institution. Cornell University aspirants are encouraged to explore their funding options and apply for an eligible scholarship and financial aid programs.