Cornell’s admission team launched the second year of its Save Your Seat program on June 23, 2026, sending early financial aid estimates to tens of thousands of students nationwide.
The program is designed to give students earlier insight into the true cost of college, expanding access to higher education, and proving that a Cornell education is affordable and accessible.
Articles were published in the news about the initiative, including in The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette and in Inside Higher Education.
“A student today would receive an estimate that is specific to them, and they can go to that link and see exactly what an estimated financial aid award at Cornell looks like. It’s a really wonderful thing at this stage … to have this kind of insight,” Cornell Vice President for Enrollment Management Wendy Beckemeyer told Inside Higher Ed.
Families who would like to receive an estimate of their cost to attend Cornell can request one online by answering a few short questions.
The program also includes incentives for early commitment. Students who deposit by Sept. 1 receive perks such as priority housing selection and preferred First-Year Seminar placement. They are also guaranteed the Cornell-funded aid listed in their Save Your Seat estimate, including merit scholarships and institutional grants.