Costs and Aid
Tuition and additional costs for the 2024-2025 MPA cohort are outlined below.
| Direct Costs | Total |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees (2024-2025) | $44,768 |
| Student Activity Fee | $110 |
| Student Health Fee | $550 |
| Student Health Insurance (can be waived if student has existing coverage) | $3,509 |
| Total Direct Costs | $48,937 |
| Estimated Indirect Costs* | Total |
|---|---|
| Housing | $12,296 |
| Food | $7,132 |
| Books and Course Materials | $2,650 |
| Transportation | $3,193 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,154 |
| Total Estimated Indirect Costs * | $27,425 |
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance (Direct Costs + Estimated Indirect Costs*)= $76,362
*Indirect costs are not billed by Cornell University and reflect estimated living and miscellaneous expenses incurred over a nine-month period (an academic year); your expenses may vary, depending on your lifestyle and personal needs.
The following information is an explanation of your costs. For more information on official costs and personal expenses, please visit the Graduate School’s Cost of Attendance page and the Office of Financial Aid’s Cost of Attendance page for a full breakdown of estimated costs.
Student Health Insurance
You are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. To appeal enrollment in the student plan, you must show that you have comparable coverage through another plan. The Office of Student Health Benefits can provide further information on benefit particulars and enrollment deadlines.
Student Health Fee
The student health fee, combined with other funding sources, enables Cornell Health to offer all students the same access to affordable on-campus care, no matter what health insurance they have. It also helps support campus-wide health initiatives that benefit the whole Cornell community.
Health fees are standard administrative fees at universities nationwide. Among Cornell’s Ivy Plus peers, those with exposed (listed separately) health fees typically range from $500 to $1,000 a year. Please visit the Cornell Health website to view a comprehensive FAQ about the Student Health Fee.
Room and Board
Your room and board budget is based on 9 months of estimated housing and food expenses for the academic year. Summer costs will vary by student and are not included in this calculation.
Personal Expenses
The personal allowance covers necessary student-related living expenses other than room and board and student health insurance, such as routine costs of transportation to and from campus (including parking fees) and basic telephone service.
Admitted International Students: Certifying Funds
Should you accept an offer of admission, you will receive an email inviting you to complete the Admission Supplement for International Students. This email will include an estimate of your annual expenses and provide you with the amount of funding that you will need to certify for visa purposes. Upon completion of the Admission Supplement, you will be enrolled in the Cornell Graduate School, and its admissions team will issue your I-20 or DS-2019 (if applicable). For more information about certifying funds and the 1-20 process visit the Graduate School’s admitted student information page.