Applying for Financial Aid
Financial assistance is provided by the Office of Student Financial Planning through gift aid, work, and student loans. Because college scholarships are awarded based on financial need, parental information is required for all unmarried students under age 30.
$4M
in scholarships awarded annually to the DVM program
65-70%
of students receive a scholarship each year
Step 1: Apply for Aid
Priority Deadline: February 28
To be considered for institutional gift aid, submit the following:
- Make your aid selection on the Financial Aid Dashboard
- Gift Aid & Loans (G), Loans Only (L), Not Applying (N)
- FAFSA (school code: 002711)
- CSS Profile (school code: 2822)
- Complete additional documents requested on the Financial Aid Dashboard:
- Student Statement of Personal Interests & Survey (if applying for gift aid)
- IRS Income Tax documentation
- Graduate Diversity Fellowship Program Application (optional, upload using the Secure Document Upload Portal)
Important: Parental data is required for all unmarried students under age 30 to be considered for gift aid.
* We want you to have all the information you need before making the choice to attend Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Meeting the application priority date will ensure that your financial aid is available prior to the decision deadline. You can still apply after the priority date but may receive a delayed financial aid award offer as a result
Step 2: Finalize Aid
A) You must actively Accept Federal Loans or Work Study Awards.
B) Review Your Financial Aid Summary: Carefully review the financial aid summary you receive from the Office of Financial Aid. This summary outlines the aid you’ve been offered and what you’ve accepted.
C) Calculate Your Actual Expenses: Use your financial aid summary to estimate your total cost of attendance and compare your aid to your actual expenses (tuition, housing, food, books, etc.). Use the Budget Worksheet to help you plan and limit borrowing when possible.
D) Request Additional Aid (If needed): If your aid does not fully cover your expenses, you may apply for a private loan to cover any unmet needs.
E) Sign Up for Direct Deposit: To receive any refunds for living expenses, sign up for Direct Deposit through Bursar Services. This ensures faster and more secure delivery of your funds.
First-Time Borrowers
If this is your first time borrowing federal loans at the College of Veterinary Medicine, you must visit studentaid.gov to complete the following before any federal loan can be disbursed:
Master Promissory Notes (MPN)
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans
Entrance Counseling: All students must complete a one-time loan entrance counseling session online in conjunction with signing the promissory notes for the loan.
**All MPNs must be signed online before the start of the fall semester. **
HPSL Recipients
If you are receiving a Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL), you must complete:
Health Professions Student Loan: Please go to the ECSI website
The annual Regulation Z Disclosure requirement:
You will receive an email from Heartland ECSI (webmaster@ecsi.net) with instructions.
This must be completed before the start of classes for your loan to be disbursed or refunded on time.
**There is a 3-day rescission period, so complete this step promptly. **
VA Benefit Recipients
If you are receiving Veteran Education Benefits, you must:
- Complete the online Application for VA Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990)
- Use the secure document upload portal to submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility.
- Complete the annual Cornell VA Benefit Request Form.
Step 3: Read About Your Responsibilities
As an applicant for financial aid, you have the responsibility to:
Stay informed about financial aid deadlines, and comply with requests for documentation by checking the Financial Aid Tracking Page, as well as reading email and postal mail messages.
Accurately complete your application(s) for student financial aid. Errors can result in long delays in your receipt of aid. Intentional misreporting of information on forms for federal financial aid is a violation of law and is considered a criminal offense subject to penalties under the U.S. Criminal Code.
Return all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by the Financial Aid Office as promptly as possible. The college is required by federal law to have on file documentation of family resources and of any circumstances necessitating adjustment of a student's budget.
**Expand below to learn more.**
Financial aid applicant should be aware of our Financial Aid Policies.