Student Funding Opportunities
College and University Funding Sources
While Cornell offers a variety of funding opportunities for undergraduates, they can be difficult to locate, given the complexity of the University. The following list of sources and ideas encompasses offices and information from across the university, though it is not exhaustive.
Fellowships*
Fellowships are endowments used to provide financial support to individuals pursuing advanced study or training. They can be for schooling, travel to certain countries, or projects within a given organization or group. See the Cornell University Fellowships Program for more information.
Financial Aid Office
The financial aid office is a great resource for outside scholarships and grants, though usually applicable for tuition assistance. Access the Financial Aid Office web site for more information.
CALS Research Funding
Several funding opportunities are available through the College. Access the Student Research web site for details, including proposal development instructions and deadlines.
CALS Alumni Association Grants Program
The CALS Alumni Association Academic Enrichment Program fosters the educational goals of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) undergraduate and graduate students by providing financial support for activities that complement and enhance each student’s academic experience at Cornell and for which funding is often not available.
Libraries*
Olin Library maintains an extensive and helpful section on grants and scholarships. For assistance, contact the reference desk librarian.
The “L” section of the Mann Library reference area is also helpful. It contains great resources, such as: Free Money for College from the Government.
Office of Academic Programs*
The Office of Academic Programs provides research grants to eligible Cornell students. The Undergraduate and Graduate Student Grants pages provide details of funding eligibility and proposal deadlines. Contact sh104 [at] cornell.edu (Dr. Sarah Giroux) for more information.
Student Assembly Summer Experience Grant
The Student Assembly Summer Experience Grant (SASEG) is designed to aid students to complete summer unpaid or minimally paid career-related experiences. It is meant to help students who would not be able to take on a summer career-related experience or would have a difficult time doing so. The funds are drawn from the Students Helping Students fund and are open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors in all seven undergraduate colleges. Each college’s career office will be reading their own students’ applications, but the main administration of the grant will be coordinated by A&S Career Development.
Engaged Cornell
Whether you are an undergraduate, graduate or professional student, there is Engaged Cornell funding to support your community-based travel and research.
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society*
Thie Sigma Xi Society provides grants to undergraduate and graduate research projects in any field. It offers general research funding, especially for travel and equipment expenses. Students may apply to both the Cornell chapter and the national headquarters for funding.
Student Employment Office
Through a number of assistance programs, the Student Employment Office subsidizes wages for students with work-study during the academic year and the summer. The "Develop Your Own Internship Program" provides summer subsidy for students with work-study. Work-study financial assistance is available until the funds are exhausted, so students are encouraged to apply early. Call 607-255-5145 for more information; or visit the office in 203 Day Hall.
No single source, including this one, will identify all possible options. Networking is, by far, the best tool. Students interested in funding opportunities should contact as many individuals in as many different environments as possible; they should ask for ideas and leads and pursue each one. The CALS Career Development Office can provide helpful information sheets on the networking process, and it also maintains a list of Faculty and Staff Career Representatives. The list contains the names of people in the College’s academic departments who serve as official liaisons with the Career Development Office. These individuals are great starting points for networking.
*These offices and programs include graduate study and research.