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United States Closing soon Closes 2 November 2026

Cornell Need-Based Financial Aid for International

Cornell is one of only a handful of US universities that meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted international undergraduates. There is no fixed dollar value — the award is calculated from your family's documented income, assets, and circumstances. For Sri Lankan families earning under approximately USD 75,000 / year, the entire cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, books, and fees — typically USD 90,000+ annually) can be covered. Cornell is need-aware in admissions for international students, so applying for aid does affect admission chances.

2027 entry: Common App opens August 2026; financial aid forms due 2 November 2026 (Early Decision) or 2 January 2027 (Regular Decision)

Cornell University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Up to Full Cost (~USD 90,000/yr)

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Duration

4 Years (renewable annually)

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Coverage

100% of Demonstrated Need

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

Cornell University — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

Need-Based Aid Covering Demonstrated Need. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Admission to Cornell as an International Undergrad

You must be admitted to Cornell as an international first-year undergraduate applicant. Aid is awarded only once you are admitted; the aid application runs in parallel with the admissions application.

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Demonstrated Financial Need

Aid is calculated from your family's documented financial position — income, assets, dependants, and special circumstances. Sri Lankan families typically file CSS Profile + the Cornell International Student Financial Aid Application with translated bank statements and tax records.

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Non-US Citizenship or Residency

Cornell's international aid pool is for students who are neither US citizens nor US permanent residents. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible.

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Highly Competitive Admissions Profile

Cornell's international admit rate is around 5-7%. Strong A/L results (4 As), SAT 1500+ or ACT 33+, polished essays, and significant extracurricular depth are typical of admitted Sri Lankan students.

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Apply via the Common App

Submit your Common Application with Cornell-specific essays by 2 November (Early Decision) or 2 January (Regular Decision). Indicate that you intend to apply for financial aid — this is a required disclosure.

Submit the CSS Profile + Cornell ISFAA

Complete the CSS Profile (via College Board) and the Cornell International Student Financial Aid Application. Required documents include parental income tax returns, bank statements, and a statement of household assets. Sri Lankan applicants should expect to translate documents from Sinhala / Tamil to English where applicable.

Admissions + aid decision in March

Cornell releases admissions decisions in mid-December (ED) or late March (RD). The financial aid award letter — detailing your annual need calculation and aid package — arrives at the same time as the admission letter.

Annual renewal

Aid is renewed each year based on updated financial documentation. As long as your family circumstances remain similar, the aid package continues for all four years. Major changes (parental job loss, illness) can prompt an upward reassessment.

Why Cornell?

Cornell is an Ivy League research university — a top-15 institution in the QS rankings, known for hotel administration, engineering, agriculture, architecture, and human ecology. It has a strong South Asian student community in Ithaca and well-regarded career outcomes across consulting, tech, and finance.

#14

QS World Ranking 2026

100%

of Demonstrated Need Met

Ivy

Ivy League Member

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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