| Direct Costs Total | $64,625 |
| Tuition and Fees | $61,200 |
| Student Insurance (can be waived if student has existing coverage) | $3,425 |
Financing Your MPA at Cornell
We know that financing an Ivy League education can be daunting, but we’re excited to tell you about your options when it comes to funding your MPA at Cornell University.
Because Cornell is the only Ivy League school with land-grant status, Cornell’s MPA program is more affordable than some other schools offering the same degree, including Columbia, New York University, and Georgetown. Combined tuition, fees, and overall living expenses for Cornell’s two-year MPA range from $20,000 to $40,000 less than our competitors.
What does it mean to have land-grant status?
The Land-Grant mission of the university — which encompasses research, education, and programs — allows for the creation and dissemination of knowledge that improves lives for not only citizens of New York, but also the nation and people around the globe. This innately aligns with the mission of an MPA program and weaves into the value of our hands-on experiences.
The Land-Grant mission of the university—which encompasses research, education and programs—allows for the creation and dissemination of knowledge that improves lives for not only citizens of New York, but also the nation and people around the globe. This innately aligns with the mission of an MPA program and weaves into the value of our hands-on experiences.
Comparison of Program Costs
2023-2024
Compare a Cornell Brooks MPA to similar programs using our cost comparison tool. It's clear that on cost alone, Cornell stands out as a valuable option, providing a high-quality education at a competitive and reasonable price.
The MPA program at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks school of Public Policy
| Direct Costs Total | $46,749 |
|
Tuition and Fee (includes student activity and health fee) |
$43,273 |
| Student Insurance (can be waived if student has existing coverage) | $3,476 |
-
-
Direct Costs Total $70,109 Tuition and Fees $65,568 Student Insurance (can be waived if student has existing coverage) $4,541
MPA Financing Options
In addition to affordable costs, there are a variety of funding opportunities available to further reduce the cost of your education, including merit-based fellowships, part-time campus employment, federal loans, Brooks MPA Program-supported fellowships, and external funding.
We award about 50 percent of our students with partial, merit-based tuition fellowships. These fellowships, based on previous academic performance, partially cover tuition. If you are admitted to the Brooks MPA Program, you will receive notification of your award in your admission letter.
The Brooks MPA Program also has partnerships in place with the following agencies to offer additional support to students. This support may include application fee waivers and further consideration for financial support:
- Coverdell Fellowship
- Teach for America
- Public Policy & International Affairs Program
- AmeriCorps
- Rangel Fellowship
- Payne Fellows Program
Cornell’s Student Employment website is the source for information and policies about student jobs on campus. The site maintains a jobs database open to Cornell graduate students that lists hourly positions. Here’s a few actual job titles you’ll likely see in the jobs database.
- Research Assistant
- Graduate Assistant (GA)
- Program Support
- Classroom Support
- Residential Life Assistant (RA)
- Library Support
Cornell currently participates in two federally funded programs: the William D. Ford Direct Loan and the Federal Graduate PLUS loan. These programs are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are matriculated toward the degree.
If you work for a nonprofit organization, you may be eligible for the federal loan forgiveness program. The program forgives loans on the balance of your student loan after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Qualified employers include government organizations, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and other nonprofits that provide qualifying service.
The FAFSA isn’t just for undergraduate students. Graduate students will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to apply for Federal Student Loan Programs. Filling out the FAFSA is an extremely smart — and sometimes vital decision — when it comes to financing graduate school.
Cornell’s Financial Aid page lists a variety of external funding options, including:
- Stanley M. Schoenfeld Memorial Scholarship
- National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Scholarship Program
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program
- Global Sustainable Energy Partnership
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
- The Rowe Fund – For Citizens of Latin America & Caribbean
