Cornell College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Cornell College was $49,970 a year.

Tuition increased 3% in 2023–from $48,514 the previous year. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students owe a lot less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Additionally, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college more manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Cornell College meets 86% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Cornell College full-time are awarded $43,929 a year in financial aid, on average.

Graduates in the class of 2023 had an average of $41,124 in student loans per borrower.

Does Cornell College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Cornell College is a private institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of Iowa as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for those who qualify as Iowa residents.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state residency can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to check your state's requirements for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Iowa colleges

Is Cornell College's Tuition Different for International Students?

Tuition at Cornell College is the same for all students.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Cornell College:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideCornell College •Cornell College-specific scholarships •International Students Tuition Waivers

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Cornell College Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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In addition to tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Cornell College.

Room and Board Costs at Cornell College

Room and board at Cornell College is $11,198 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the school dining facilities. Students who do not live on-campus but still want to use the dining facilities can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $5,162.

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

Cost of Books at Cornell College

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have ways for students with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Cornell College

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Cornell College, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in an urban area is often pricey, but cities may offer more buses, trains or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Cornell Collegeis in a town in Iowa, not far from Iowa City and Iowa.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, be sure to factor in the cost of things like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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Total Tuition and Expenses at Cornell College

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to Cornell College.

Total Cost of Cornell College

What will the cost of attending Cornell College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$49,970
Room and Board	$11,198
Board Only	$3,018
Other expenses	$1,610

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$63,442
Off-Campus	$55,262

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Cornell College Financial Aid

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The majority of Cornell College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2023, 752 of the 1,060 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Cornell College meets 86% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $43,929 a year. Around 64% of Cornell College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Cornell College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $41,124 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$26,726
Cornell College-Specific Loans	$2,518
Private Loans	$45,722

Most Common Loans for Cornell College Students
Federal Loans	62%
Institutional Loans	15%
Private loans	20%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Cornell College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Cornell College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Cornell College awarded 752 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $26.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $11.75 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Cornell College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Cornell College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Cornell College was $43,929 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Cornell College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$19,513
Off-Campus	$11,333

What will attending Cornell College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Cornell College's net cost calculator on their website.

Cornell College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Cornell College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Cornell College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Cornell College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - International Students - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Cornell College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

For more information about Cornell College's endowment, check with the school directly. For each full-time student, Cornell College spends about $13,169 a year.

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Learn More About Cornell College

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To learn more about Cornell College, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

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