Cost of attendance: Cornell University
Sticker tuition at Cornell University is $84,722 per year, or $254,166 over three years. These are 2025-2026 sticker prices from ABA Standard 509 disclosures. Living costs in Ithaca vary and are not included. Use the true-cost calculator with your own living estimate for a full number.
| Tuition | Per year | Three years |
|---|---|---|
| Nonresident (sticker) | $84,722 | $254,166 |
| National median annual tuition (all 196 schools) | $51,320 | — |
This school's sticker tuition sits above the national median of $51,320 per year.
What the sticker price leaves out
- Living costs. Rent, food, and transport in Ithaca, NY vary widely and are not in this table. Schools publish their own cost-of-attendance estimates; use theirs for a tighter number.
- Fees and books. Usually a few thousand a year on top of tuition.
- Interest. Borrowed money costs more than the sticker price. Loans accrue interest while you study.
- Scholarships. Most students do not pay sticker. Merit aid, need-based aid, and in-state rates change the real number.
How students pay less than sticker
- Score above the median. The Fall 2025 median LSAT at Cornell University is 173. Schools pay for the medians they report, so a score above it is the main driver of merit aid.
- Compare total cost, not just tuition. A cheaper school in an expensive city can cost more than a pricier school where you live cheaply.
- Run your own numbers. The true cost of law school calculator combines this school's tuition with your living estimate, scholarships, and loan terms.
Tuition: the 2025-2026 annual sticker price from ABA Standard 509 disclosures via ILRG, for the Fall 2025 entering class. Sticker price, not what most students pay. Medians: Fall 2025 entering class. Selectivity rank: #5 of 196 by median LSAT.
A higher LSAT score means more scholarship money
Take a free diagnostic to see where you stand against Cornell University's 173 median, then build a study plan around it.
Last updated October 12, 2026