Cornell Tech

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MATRICULATION

Please visit the Admitted Student check-list for a full list of next steps in your enrollment

Please send your transcript by July 1st. If your degree conferral is after this, please reach out to admissions as soon as possible.

Note: MBA students should send their transcripts no later than May 1st.

Please note that you will need to have completed your degree with all final grades input by the start of classes in August to enroll.

Admissions will begin verifying materials by June and will reach out if more information is needed.

Please allow 3-5 business days from the date of receipt for the admissions team to review and verify your transcript.

Your Admissions Portal will also reflect this change once your transcript has been verified.

Please note that transcripts must be sent directly by your institution once your degree has been conferred and it should include degree conferral information. Student-submitted copies will not be accepted.

If you have already reported your scores to Cornell Tech, no further action is needed on your end. Confirming scores will take time and will be done by August.  If we run into any issues verifying your scores, we will reach out to you.

Your Admissions Portal will also reflect this change. 

Cornell Tech does not offer deferred enrollment. If you are unable to join this upcoming cohort, you will need to withdraw your enrollment.  

You can re-apply for the following enrollment cycle; Re-applicants are eligible for document transfer such as transcripts and letters of recommendation as well as an application fee waiver.  If you have submitted a deposit, you may be eligible for a deposit transfer.  All re-applicants will be asked to submit a new personal statement and an updated resume. Please note that admission is not guaranteed for re-applicants.

Please email [email protected] with any updates.

If you will no longer be joining the incoming class, please send an email to [email protected] to withdraw your enrollment. Please note that all deposits are non-refundable as stated in your decision letter.

Please note that programs must be completed within the allotted timeframe and cannot be extended. The only exception is for a leave of absence.

To learn more about The House, our on-campus housing facility, please visit this page for rates and more information. You can look at our Off-Campus Housing Resource Guide for information about finding long and short term off-campus housing.

More information can also be found within the Housing section of your New Student Checklist.

You will receive your physical Cornell ID at orientation. Your ID cannot be issued before this date.

TUITION, FEES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Please allow 7 business days after your decision release to confirm if you were awarded a Cornell Tech scholarship. If you have not received a scholarship notification within this time frame, you have not been selected for a scholarship.

Tuition rates for the current academic year can be found here and on the Office of the Bursar’s website. Note that finalized tuition rates, which will likely increase, will be announced by June. 

Tuition rates  and fees for the current academic year can be found here.

Some fees include: 

Health Insurance: $3,944 – $4,058 (estimated)
NYC Health Fee: $340
Student Activity Fee: $110
MBA Students: Johnson Cornell Tech New Student Fee: $1,500

*Finalized amounts will be posted by June

Please review the Office of Financial Aid‘s Loans page to explore different loan providers. Cornell recommends using ELM Select – a lender-neutral comparison tool with information about private loans used by Cornell students historically. ELM Select offers comparison tools and helpful financial fundamentals resources to help you select an option that best meets your needs. 

Yes, all students are required to have health insurance that meets Cornell’s minimum requirements and all students will be automatically enrolled in Cornell’s Student Health Plan (SHP).

International students are required to be covered by the Cornell SHP. US citizens and US permanent residents can apply to waive the Cornell SHP if their insurance meets Cornell’s requirements. Visit the Student Health Benefits – Eligibility to Waive website to learn more.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

M.Eng and Jacob Cornell Dual M.S. Students

Cornell University Financial Aid Information | Contact: [email protected]

JCTMB Students

Johnson Financial Planning | Please email [email protected] or schedule an appointment to discuss your funding plan.

LLM Students
Cornell Law School Financial Aid FAQ | Contact: [email protected]

COURSE REGISTRATION AND ACADEMICS

Yes, orientation is mandatory for all incoming students. All incoming students are required to attend the mandatory Fall Master’s Orientation on August 19th & August 20th, 2026. There will also be optional orientation activities on Friday, August 21st, 2026. Please connect with Student and Academic Affairs if you have any questions.

Class selection will happen the later half of the summer and will be done with the support of the Student and Academic Affairs Team.  Please review your Student and Academic Affairs Newsletters for more information about course pre-enrollment and registration.

Please first review your Student and Academic Affairs Newsletters for the latest information about course pre-enrollment and registration.

While there are opportunities to engage in research, note that students enrolled in Cornell Tech masters programs (MEng/MS) are not eligible for research assistantships that support tuition, health insurance, and provide a stipend. 

There are several opportunities to engage in research for students on campus including specialization projects (for Jacobs students), independent studies, or, in rare/limited occasions, research positions for hourly wage. Once enrolled, students who are interested in research opportunities should first review the research interests of Cornell Tech faculty and reach out to those whom they would want to work with based on interest; our faculty are not likely to respond to students who are not yet in the program. Once classes begin, the Student and Academic Affairs team can provide more information about independent studies. 

For any other campus positions, which are also limited, you will need to refer to the Student Employment website. Please note, open positions will be posted closer to the Fall semester start date. Students are allowed to work up to 10 hrs/week and you will not be able to start a position until your program start date.

Please visit your New Student Checklist for key dates.

Please visit your New Student Checklist for key dates or visit the Registrar’s Calendar page.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Before you can apply for an F-1 or J-1 student visa, Cornell Tech must issue you a Form I-20 on behalf of Cornell University. The I-20 confirms your eligibility to study in the United States and is required for your visa appointment and U.S. entry.

Students are strongly advised to submit their I-20 request as early as possible and no later than 10-12 weeks prior to the program start date. This timeline allows adequate time for document review, visa processing, and travel planning.

All required materials must be submitted through the I-20 Request Form. Requests with missing or incomplete documentation cannot be processed.

For general information regarding U.S. student visas and international student services, please consult the Cornell University Office of Global Learning.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Complete the Appropriate I-20 Request Form

You must complete one of the following forms based on your immigration status:

Initial I-20 (New F-1 or J-1)

  • Complete the Cornell Tech I-20 Application.
  • Please type as much of the form as possible to ensure legibility. Use a common font, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
  • For your phone number, include your country code, followed by a space, then your full phone number. Enter your phone number in international format: +CountryCode PhoneNumber
    • For Example: United States: +1 1234567890 | United Kingdom: +44 7123456789
  • Make sure you list an address outside of the United States

Transfer I-20 (Students Currently in F-1 Status at a U.S. Institution)

  • Upload a completed I-20 Transfer Form, in addition to the Cornell Tech I-20 Application. Please type as much of the forms as possible to ensure legibility. For information about F-1 transfers, please visit this page.

  • If your current institution is unable to complete this form, you may:

    • Complete the form yourself and omit the DSO signature, or

    • Upload an official Transfer Confirmation Letter/Email from your current institution

SEVIS Transfer Information (Transfer Students Only)

  • School Name: Cornell University – Cornell Tech

  • School Code: BUF214F00067004

Step 2: Upload Passport Identification Page(s)

  • Upload a clear, legible copy of the passport biographic (photo) page

  • Students with dependents who will apply for F-2 or J-2 visas must also upload passport photo pages for each dependent

Step 3: Submit Proof of Financial Support

U.S. immigration regulations require students to demonstrate sufficient liquid financial resources to cover at least one academic year of tuition and living expenses.

Estimated Funding Requirements
Based on the 2026–2027 Academic Year rates published by the Office of the Bursar

Please ensure you submit funding that is equal to or greater than the cost of your program and the estimated cost of living when converted to U.S. Dollars (USD).

  • Master of Engineering and Jacobs Technion-Cornell Dual MS Tuition: $73,946 
  • LLM Tuition: $87,908
  • JCTMBA Tuition: $139,030 
  • MEng/Jacobs Dual MS/LLM Estimated Cost of Living: $39,454
  • MBA Estimated Cost of Living: $41,538
 
Acceptable Financial Documentation: Financial documents must be dated within the last six (6) months and may include:
  • Bank statements (checking or savings accounts)
  • Bank certification letters
  • Certificates of deposit
  • Stock or mutual fund account statements

Unacceptable Financial Documentation: The following documents are not accepted:

  • Retirement or pension accounts
  • Property deeds or property assessments
  • Precious metals, jewelry, or other non-liquid assets
  • Payslips

Required Information on Financial Documents: Each financial document must clearly display:

  • Name of the account holder
  • Name of the financial institution
  • Available balance shown in U.S. dollars (USD)
    • Amounts in foreign currency will be converted at the exchange rate in effect at the time of processing
    • If funding does not meet the minimum requirement, the I-20 cannot be issued

Step 4: Submit Sponsor Documentation (If Applicable)

 Students who are not fully self-funded must provide the following:

  • A completed Affidavit of Support from each sponsor

  • Corresponding financial documentation for each sponsor

If multiple sponsors are supporting your studies, each sponsor must submit a separate affidavit and financial documents.

Document Language Requirements

  • All documents must be submitted in English or accompanied by a certified English translation

  • Documents submitted without an English translation will not be processed

For further details about obtaining your student visa and other international student information, visit Cornell University Office of Global Learning.

Once you have received your I-20, you will be able to pay your SEVIS fee and apply for Student Status. For more information, please visit this page.

As a reminder:

  • If you recently graduated from a U.S. institution or are on OPT, you may be able to transfer your SEVIS record; please fill out the transfer form if this is the case. If your DSO does not fill it out, you can fill it out yourself but please make sure they release your SEVIS record to Cornell Tech. The F1 school code for Cornell University (Cornell Tech) is: BUF214F00067004
  • If you are using funds not in your name, please have the person providing funds fill out the affidavit of support. If you do not submit this and are using funds from a family member, we cannot process your I-20.
  • You must provide financial statements in English or with an English translation; they do not need to be in USD.

    • You must provide sufficient funding to cover or exceed the cost of tuition and estimated living expenses for New York City. While your bank documents can be in another currency, please make sure they cover the necessary expenses when converted to USD.

  • Finally, please read the I-20 application carefully and provide the requested information to avoid processing delays. Make sure to include your foreign address, your phone number with the country code, and ensure that your I-20 application is legible. 

For DSO contact information, please visit this page.

If you will not require an I-20, please notify us as soon as possible, and we will remove the requirement from your profile. 

Questions? 
Review the Office of Global Learning’s website, watch this webinar, or review our FAQs.

Once you have submitted your deposit, you should submit an I-20 form application with Cornell Tech as soon as possible to receive an I-20.

Please note that you will need to be on campus for orientation.

For new students, please submit early to give yourself enough time to secure a visa appointment as slots may be limited.

For transfer students, you should make sure your transfer release date is before orientation. Please work with your DSO to release your SEVIS record to Cornell Tech. You should submit your I-20 application before your transfer date to allow for a review of your submission and so that it can be processed shortly after your I-20 release date. Please note that we cannot access your SEVIS record or issue you an I-20 until the day of or after your transfer release date.

Once you have submitted your deposit, you will be able to submit an I-20 form application with Cornell Tech to receive an I-20. If you are a recent graduate from undergraduate, you will need to apply for a transfer with your current DSO. Once the I-20 is ready, you will receive an email notice with next steps. I-20 forms can take 3-5 business days to process after submission or after the transfer release date.

Once your I-20 has been processed, you will be alerted via email and you will be able to access the document in your admissions portal.

Please review the “I-20 Completed” email you received once your I-20 was ready or visit this page.

Next Steps:
When applying for your student visa, you must be prepared to demonstrate non-immigrant intent.

You must sign and endorse the I-20 within the Student Attestation section if everything looks correct.

International Services’ step-by-step visa application guide will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the next steps in the process of applying for a student visa.

When attending your visa interview, be prepared to be interviewed in English. Answer all questions honestly and briefly. NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, offers some useful advice for student visa interviews.

While uncommon, visa delays are possible. More information about potential delays can be found here. If you encounter delays in scheduling your visa appointment, let us know right away! Note that Cornell University cannot interfere with the visa process. 

For additional information, you can view or download our overview of the visa and check-in process and visit International Services’ Apply for Student Status page. 

For the latest information on visa appointments and travel to the United States, please visit the Office of Global Learning website.

To download your program director’s CV, please access their profile here.

If you require additional information, beyond your acceptance letter, as a result of your visa appointment, please contact admissions.

DSO Information & USA Point of Contact:

Please review the “I-20 Completed” email you received once your I-20 was ready or visit this page.

Please note, that the program name on your I-20 may be slightly different because of the STEM code that it’s been assigned. 

Please review the “I-20 Completed” email you received once your I-20 was ready or visit this page.

ACTIVATE YOUR STUDENT STATUS:

New F and J students: Remember to activate your student status when you arrive to activate your immigration record. It’s required! New J-1 scholars must also complete an immigration check-in.

Additional Information and notes:

  • Your passport name will correspond to the machine-readable portion of your passport, excluding the < symbol
  • The Current Session start dates are intentionally left blank
  • If you did not list your City of Birth on your I-20 application, this section will be blank
  • Make sure that the program start date matches your acceptance letter and that your program ends in May of your graduation year
  • Family funds will be listed under personal funds, Please ensure to retain the affidavit of support 
  • Once issued, changes will not be made to the funding section of the I-20. If your scholarship or authorized funds increase, please bring this information, along with your submitted I-20 materials, with you to your visa appointment and have it with you when you enter the United States 
  • We do not mail I-20s; you will need to print this copy

Questions?
You are also encouraged to watch our webinar with the Office of Global Learning for more information.

If you have further questions about the I-20 process, please contact Cornell Tech Admissions.

Have questions not answered here or in your New Student Checklist? Contact Admissions.