Financing an affordable Cornell education

By Lisa Gray Giurato

Cornell College is becoming a leader in making a private liberal arts education more affordable to all students. With two new initiatives and another that was increased this school year, Cornell is also making cost more transparent to potential students and their families.

Forbes is among the media following the story, including in its Aug. 25, 2021, article, “How A Small College Is Targeting Financial Aid To Compete With Flagship Universities.” 

Debt Reduction Pledge

Cornell is kicking off a new program to take a stand against college debt by committing to pay half of students’ federal loans–up to $12,000–at the time of their graduation. 

The Debt Reduction Pledge will provide funding to 65 first-year students, starting with those enrolling for the 2022-23 academic year. The only requirements to receive the funding are that students must graduate from Cornell in four years, live on campus, maintain good academic standing, and stay enrolled as a full-time student.

Cornell Freeway Scholarship graphicFreeway Scholarship

Giving Midwest students $30,000 when they’re admitted is another move to make college more affordable.

The Cornell College Freeway Scholarship is rolling out for first-year students from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Kansas City, Kansas, applying now for the 2022-23 school year.

“Affordability should be one of the top initiatives for every college,” said Director of Admission Drew Shradel. “It’s our responsibility as higher education professionals to find ways to make our college affordable and accessible. This is an investment in our students and an investment in what we believe in. We are a great institution and what better way for us to demonstrate that than by giving more students access to our educational system, our professors, and our facilities.”

Iowa Promise Scholarship

Our Iowa Promise Scholarship offers a minimum of $30,000 to all first-time students from the state of Iowa who are accepted for admission.

This move puts Cornell’s cost of attendance in line with Iowa’s three state universities and offers the opportunity for more Iowans to choose an affordable private college education. Used in collaboration with the Iowa Tuition Grant—state aid that is available only to students attending private colleges—the cost of attendance is comparable to all three institutions.