The Access Fund provides funding to assist low-income undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Cornell University. It is administered by the Office of the Dean of Students through the Office of First-Generation & Low-Income (FGLI) Student Support and sustained through the generous contributions of alumni and donors. Fund availability depends on donations and student demand.
To serve as many students as possible, adjustments to the fund are sometimes necessary. These adjustments may include changing the maximum award amount per student, adjusting the items offered based on what is already covered by financial aid and other university funding sources, closing the Access Fund once requests reach the budgeted capacity, or declining requests that do not meet the stated requirements.
In recent years, applications have increased while funding availability has decreased, and staff capacity to process them has remained limited. As a result, the fund will operate on a reduced schedule for 2025–2026. It will open for Fall 2025 semester requests in November 2025 and remain available until all funds are disbursed. The fund is expected to reopen for Spring 2026 requests at the end of February or the beginning of March, depending on available resources and staffing. These adjustments are intended to ensure the fund is managed responsibly and that limited resources are distributed as fairly as possible.
The Access Fund is not an emergency fund and cannot provide immediate financial assistance.
Students with urgent or emergency needs: explore the resources below; eligibility is determined by Financial Aid & Student Employment.
The Access Fund is available to enrolledfull-time undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Cornell’s Ithaca campus who are low-income and demonstrate financial need. It is intended to help reduce on-campus barriers, cover essential items (such as transformative experience, basic needs, and winter gear), and assist with other expenses not covered by financial aid, health insurance, or other university resources. Graduate and professional students without a financial aid package must submit documentation attesting to their financial need, including but not limited to financial aid letters or documents outlining financial circumstances, which will be reviewed as part of the application. Awards are not guaranteed, even if the criteria are met.
The following is the breakdown of fund eligibility: Undergraduate students (UNG) may receive up to $500 per academic year, and graduate and professional students (G/PRO) may receive up to $300 per academic year (Fall and Spring semesters only). Awards are not guaranteed.
What is the review process?
Application Review: Applications are reviewed within 14 business days. If more documentation is required, students will be contacted by email. If your application does not meet the guidelines, students may be referred to other resources.
Notification: Students will receive an email once their application has been processed with the status of their request. Approved requests will include instructions for next steps (item pickup, service activation, or reimbursement). Disbursement usually occurs within 30–60 business days, depending on the type of request and processing timelines. Denied requests will include an explanation and may also provide referrals to other campus or community resources.
What does the Access Fund cover?
The Access Fund provides limited financial support to help students meet essential needs and reduce barriers not already covered by financial aid or other university resources. Funding may be requested in the following categories:
Equipment Repair
Health & Wellness
Professional and Winter Attire
Travel & Transportation
Awards vary by category but cannot exceed the annual eligibility limits: undergraduate students (UNG) may receive up to $500 per academic year, and graduate and professional students (G/PRO) may receive up to $300 per academic year (Fall and Spring semesters only). Category-specific maximums are outlined in the sections below. Awards are not guaranteed.
Equipment Repair
Laptop Repair – $200 Maximum:
Students may request funding for unexpected laptop repairs.
Applications must include a written quote/estimate from a repair facility.
Funds can only be applied to laptop repairs and do not cover other devices such as desktop computers, phones, tablets, or smart watches.
Reimbursement is provided only after proof of repair completion (such as an itemized receipt matching the approved quote).
Repairs made before approval are not eligible.
Health & Wellness
Cornell Fitness Center (CFC) Basic Gym Membership – $165 Maximum:
Students may request funding for a Cornell Fitness Center (CFC) Basic Gym Membership.
Hygiene Products – $70 Maximum (4-month supply):
Students may request funding for a prepacked, gender-inclusive toiletry kit designed to support student well-being. Kits will include deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving cream, razors, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
Students may request funding for acute, immediate expenses not covered by insurance.
Students must first submit claims to their insurance and provide an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and receipts.
Documentation must be submitted through myCornellHealth(subject line: “Attn: Cornell Health Billing - First Name, Last Name”).
Upon completing all requirements, Cornell Health will review and validate the receipts and EOB before forwarding the request to the Access Fund. The Access Fund will either process the fund disbursement or request additional information.
Students enrolled in Cornell’s Student Health Plan (SHP) should contact Student Health Benefits (studentbenefits@cornell.edu) with any questions about SHP coverage and benefits before applying.
Professional and Winter Attire
Professional Accessories & Attire – $100 Maximum for all students:
Students may request funding for professional clothing and related items, including:
Briefcases, backpacks, or computer bags will be provided through the Cornell Store.
Business suits, dress shirts, or dress pants (reimbursement only).
Funds will not be approved for casual clothing, tuxedos, gowns, printed material such as business cards, jewelry or accessories, perfumes or fragrances, purses, handbags, etc.
Winter Attire Set – $150 Maximum for all students:
Students may request funding for winter attire, including one coat, one hat, and one pair of gloves.
Students must outline winter attire needs.
Approved requests will receive a survey to select items from a curated list, which can be retrieved on a scheduled date and time at the Cornell Store.
Only items on the curated list are available; substitutions, modifications, or replacements are not permitted.
There is no exchange of funds and no reimbursement for any outside purchases.
Students who received winter attire support in previous years may not receive the same level again.
Winter Boots - $100 Maximum for all students:
Students may request funding for winter boots.
Students must outline winter boot needs.
Approved requests will receive a survey to select the size of boots, which can be retrieved on a scheduled date and time at the Cornell Store.
There is no exchange of funds and no reimbursement for any outside purchases.
Students who received winter attire support in previous years may not receive the same level again.
Students may request funding for upcoming experiential learning opportunities. This includes summer internships related to your academic studies or summer research opportunities not otherwise covered by Financial Aid or other Cornell funding sources.
Applications must include a letter of acceptance for the summer internship or research opportunity.
Reimbursements will not be provided for past summer internships or research opportunities.
Funding will not be approved for conference registration fees, classes, coursework, Cornell Global Learning travel, or other opportunities outside the categories listed above.
What is NOT Funded?
The Access Fund cannot be used for the following expenses:
Academic & University Costs
Tuition, university fees, or late fees
Graduate school fees, test prep, certifications, or coursework
Textbooks, academic supplies, or other costs are already included in your financial aid package
New laptops or desktop computers
Living Expenses
Rent, mortgage, or utilities
Meal plans or groceries (see food support resources below)
OmniRide/TCAT bus passes are no longer covered by the Access Fund, as transportation is already factored into Cornell’s cost of attendance for financial aid purposes. This cost includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, supplies, personal items, and transportation, with aid packages tailored to meet demonstrated need.
Note: All new Cornell students automatically receive OmniRide privileges for unlimited TCAT rides during their first year. After the first year, students can purchase discounted OmniRide passes atthis link. TCAT also provides free rides for all students after 6:00 pm on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Other Ineligible Expenses
Student Health Plan (SHP) premiums or related fees
Federal or private student loans, personal loans, or credit card debt
Parking tickets or Cornell ID replacement fees
Conference registration fees and associated travel expenses
See the Funding Resource Guideunder the “Travel Expense Funds” tab for possible resources.
Meal plan or groceries. Students enrolled at the Ithaca campus are encouraged to consider the following resources:
Depending on your request type, different campus partners fulfill approved applications. This ensures items and services are delivered efficiently and through the most appropriate office.
Cornell Store
Covers: winter gear, winter boots, hygiene items, select professional attire
Timeline: items available within 14 business days of approval
Recreational Services
Covers: Cornell Fitness Center (CFC) Basic Gym Membership
Timeline: membership activated within 14 business days of approval
Office of Financial Aid (OFA) and Shared Service Centers (SSC)
Oversee reimbursements for medical costs, laptop repair, professional attire, and travel. OFA supports undergraduate reimbursements, and SSC supports graduate and professional student reimbursements.
Timeline: Funds are processed within 30–60 business days of approval, depending on volume and staff capacity.
Disbursement: The fastest way to receive your funds is to set up an ACH Authorization Form for direct deposit. If you do not have direct deposit, a physical check will be mailed to your address on file. The Business Service Center cannot mail checks to international addresses. If you have an international address on file, your check will be held until you set up direct deposit, update your address to a U.S. address, or your application is archived.
If a student has an outstanding balance with Cornell, Access Fund awards may be applied directly to the student’s Cornell bill before any remaining funds are released.
Are funds guaranteed?
No. While it is our goal to support students with low incomes, the Access Fund is entirely supported by the generous gifts of Cornell alumni and donors. Resources are limited and budgeted annually, which means funding decisions depend on the amount of contributions received, available funds at the time of application, and the number of requests received.
In addition to the Access Fund, students may access the following resources for financial, basic needs, and professional attire support:
Cornell Basic Needs Coalition: A free resource hub that connects students with food, housing, financial, and other essential supports available on campus and in the local community.
The Wardrobe (Cornell): A student-run rental program that provides professional attire at no cost to Cornell students. Clothing must be returned, but students can access a wide selection of interview and professional apparel.
The Access Fund is not an emergency fund and cannot provide immediate financial assistance. Students with urgent or emergency needs should explore the resources below; eligibility is determined by Financial Aid & Student Employment.
