The estimate of costs above 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.

Room and Board

Your room and board budget is based on $1,000 a month for nine months of housing and $500 a month for food.

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.