Bachelor of Science [BS] (Information Science)
Field of Study:
$71,266 /Yr
Cornell University Bachelor of Science in Information Science is a four-year, full-time, in-person CALS degree in Ithaca requiring at least 120 credits. Applicants need calculus-ready mathematics, while August 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 tuition was US$73,946 (INR 70.38 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.
The programme studies how people and organisations create, manage and use technology through computing, statistics, design and social analysis. It best fits applicants seeking human-centred technology breadth, although choosing a concentration and coordinating CALS requirements demands early academic planning.
- The 50-credit major combines five information-science core courses with programming, calculus, statistics, a concentration and three electives.
- CALS students receive the BS, while Cornell’s Arts and Sciences students follow a separate BA route with different college foundations.
- Class of 2025 programme evidence links the curriculum to technology, financial-services and consulting roles without limiting graduates to software development.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the August 2027 intake are Not Yet Open. International student deadline: 1 November 2026 for Early Decision or 2 January 2027 for Regular Decision, both expected.
Early Decision is binding, so Indian applicants needing to compare aid offers should use Regular Decision unless Cornell is their unambiguous first choice.
Also Check: Cornell University Information Science Admission
Cornell BS Information Science Fees and Living Costs 2027
Cornell has not published 2027-28 undergraduate tuition on the checked cost surfaces. The latest usable amount is a prior-cycle reference, not a forecast of the August 2027 charge.
Prior-cycle context: The table shows 2026-27 tuition and keeps Cornell’s international living estimate separate.
| Cost item | Amount | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition for one academic year | US$73,946 | INR 70.38 Lakhs |
Source: Cornell University 2026-27 undergraduate cost of attendance.
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$1 = INR 95.18 as of 15 June 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
Multiplying this amount across four years would misstate the target-cycle commitment because annual prices can change. Families should replace the reference when Cornell publishes 2027-28 tuition and retain a fee-rise reserve.
Cost of Living in Ithaca for Information Science Students
Cornell International Services estimates combined graduate living expenses for 2026-27, the closest cached official international estimate. It is a planning proxy because undergraduate housing and meal arrangements may produce a different total.
| Combined living estimate | US$ | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total | US$3,118 | INR 2.97 Lakhs |
| Annual total | US$37,418 | INR 35.61 Lakhs |
Adding the available figures gives a prior-cycle planning illustration of US$111,364 (INR 1.06 Crore). The basis is US$73,946 (INR 70.38 Lakhs) plus US$37,418 (INR 35.61 Lakhs).
The calculation excludes travel, visa charges and any 2027-28 increase. It is therefore a budgeting anchor, not a Cornell-published Information Science cost of attendance.
Read More: Study and Living Costs in the United States
ROI reality: Available tuition and living inputs exceed INR 1 Crore for one prior-cycle year. Set a four-year family funding ceiling before making a binding application commitment.
Cornell BS Information Science Admission 2027
Applicants enter Information Science directly through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Cornell publishes required preparation rather than a minimum first-year GPA, percentage or class rank, so Cornell makes the official Indian-board equivalency decision.
August 2027 context: The requirements below apply to first-year applicants selecting the CALS Information Science major.
| Requirement | Published expectation | Indian applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Four secondary-school units | Present four years of school English where the transcript records them |
| Mathematics | Four units, including calculus | Continue mathematics through Class 12 and document calculus preparation |
| Science | Three units, including one biology and one chemistry or physics unit | Retain laboratory sciences beside mathematics rather than presenting a computing-only record |
| Standardised test | SAT or ACT required for fall 2026 entry and later | Submit one accepted test because August 2027 is within the reinstated-testing period |
| Major structure | At least 50 major credits within a minimum 120-credit degree | Expect programming, calculus, statistics and CALS distribution work alongside Information Science |
After enrolment, the major requires introductory programming, calculus, statistics, five core courses, one concentration and three electives. This structure rewards applicants who can connect technical preparation to a human, organisational or societal information problem.
Students changing into the major later need a 2.5 GPA in affiliation courses, approximately 70% to 75%, or CGPA 7.0 to 7.5 on 10. They also need a 2.3 cumulative Cornell GPA, approximately 65% to 70%, or CGPA 6.5 to 7.0 on 10.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
International first-year applicants may need an approved English test, and Cornell currently publishes an IELTS Academic minimum of 7.5. Claim a school-English waiver only when Cornell’s live criteria explicitly cover the applicant’s education.
| Test route | Published threshold | Application action |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Overall 7.5 | Arrange official reporting before the chosen application deadline |
- IELTS is the clearest published route for an Indian applicant who cannot establish an English-language waiver.
- Cornell’s undergraduate post-21 January 2026 TOEFL threshold is unpublished on the readable first-year page, so verify it before booking TOEFL.
- Prepare SAT or ACT separately because Cornell’s general testing requirement does not replace English-language evidence.
Tip for Indian students: Calculus readiness establishes academic preparation, while the application should connect technical work to one concentration-level question involving people, data or design.
Cornell BS Information Science Application 2027
The August 2027 application is not yet open, while Cornell publishes a recurring first-year schedule. The dates below are expected calendar placements and remain subject to confirmation when the target-cycle application opens.
August 2027 application cycle: Cornell offers one Fall first-year intake through binding Early Decision and non-binding Regular Decision.
| Plan | Expected application deadline | Expected decision timing |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | 1 November 2026 | Mid-December 2026 |
| Regular Decision | 2 January 2027 | Early April 2027 |
Cornell does not publish a portal cutoff timezone beside these recurring dates. Indian applicants should therefore submit before the stated calendar date and avoid creating an unsupported IST conversion.
The file combines the Common Application, Cornell writing supplement, school report, counsellor recommendation, two teacher evaluations and required testing. Funding forms must follow the selected plan because international applicants cannot safely defer the affordability decision until after admission.
- Choose Early Decision only when Cornell is the clear first choice and the family can accept a binding result after aid review.
- Use the CALS essay to connect calculus, computing or design evidence to a defined information problem affecting people or organisations.
- Ask teachers to demonstrate analytical reasoning and collaboration rather than repeating marks already visible on the transcript.
- Check the applicant portal after submission because Cornell uses it to identify missing materials and release decisions.
Application tip: Regular Decision preserves funding comparisons, while Early Decision exchanges that flexibility for a binding first-choice application expected by 1 November 2026.
Cornell BS Information Science Scholarships 2027
Cornell provides need-based aid rather than a published Information Science merit scholarship. International admission is need-aware, so requesting support may affect selection and must be declared in the initial application.
Current published funding routes: Values depend on demonstrated need unless the official terms specify a coverage level.
| Funding route | Published coverage | Eligibility and route | Expected deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Scholarship | Need-based support for up to eight semesters | Eligible Indian secondary-school attendee admitted to Cornell; submit required aid documents | Chosen admission-plan deadline |
| Levitan Family Scholarship | Full scholarship with additional experience support | International secondary-school attendee with significant financial need; consideration follows aid review | Chosen admission-plan deadline |
| Cornell institutional aid | Package based on assessed demonstrated need | International applicant requesting aid during initial admission; complete Cornell’s required financial forms | Chosen admission-plan deadline |
Tata funding is directly relevant to Indian applicants, but Cornell does not publish a fixed award amount for this course. The route can change affordability substantially, yet admission, documented need and limited scholarship capacity remain decisive.
- Request aid with the first application because an international undergraduate cannot assume access to Cornell institutional aid later.
- Keep income and asset figures consistent across every financial form and any subsequent verification request.
- Do not subtract an unpublished award from prior-cycle tuition because Cornell calculates need-based packages individually.
Also Check: Cornell University Scholarship Options
Scholarship reality: Tata consideration can transform affordability, but no fixed Information Science award is published. Submit complete funding evidence with the chosen application plan.
Cornell BS Information Science Salary 2027
Cornell reports that 93% of the Class of 2025 were employed full-time or attending graduate school six months after graduation. This is programme-cohort evidence, not a placement guarantee for an international graduate.
Class of 2025 scope: Salary reflects respondents reporting starting pay, while sector shares describe employed graduates.
| Course-cohort measure | Published result | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Mean starting salary | US$98,000 | INR 93.28 Lakhs |
Source: Cornell Bowers Bachelor of Science in Information Science, Class of 2025 outcomes at six months.
| Course-cohort outcome | Class of 2025 result | Decision meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Technology sector | 33% | Largest reported employment sector, but not the only technical pathway |
| Financial services | 32% | Nearly equal sector share supports finance-facing data and product routes |
| Consulting | 15% | Shows a smaller structured problem-solving route beyond product companies |
| US employment location | 97% | Reported geography reflects the cohort and does not establish future visa access |
The evidence supports several concentration-to-career combinations rather than one default occupation. Data Science may fit analytics work, while UX and Behavioral Science can support product research and human-centred design portfolios.
Return on Investment for Indian Students
The US$111,364 (INR 1.06 Crore) prior-cycle illustration exceeds the published mean starting salary. However, one-year cost and gross salary cannot produce a reliable payback period without four-year prices, aid, taxes and living expenses.
- The US$98,000 (INR 93.28 Lakhs) mean is self-reported cohort evidence, so budget against confirmed aid instead of treating it as guaranteed income.
- The 33% technology and 32% financial-services shares reward different portfolios, so align the concentration, electives and internships with one target sector.
- The 97% US employment share describes 2025 respondents, so preserve an India-return option rather than assuming future sponsorship.
- Up to 36 months of STEM-related training can extend the US job search, but it does not remove employer or role eligibility conditions.
- Need-based funding changes financial risk most directly, so compare the final Cornell package with the full four-year family ceiling before enrolling.
US take-home pay varies with state, taxes and benefits, while Indian salaries reflect a different labour market. Compare any offer with the applicable official tax calculator and preserve its role, location and evidence scope.
ROI reality: The Class of 2025 salary and sector evidence is useful, but affordability still depends on confirmed aid, four-year costs and a concentration-linked portfolio.
US Visa for Cornell BS Information Science Students 2027
International students normally use the F-1 student visa, followed by Optional Practical Training after graduation. Cached 2026 rules allow 12 months plus a possible 24-month STEM extension, while longer employment requires separate eligible status.
- The STEM extension can create a 36-month training window, but the job and employer must satisfy federal conditions.
- H-1B eligibility is separate from training, and the cached US$60,000 (INR 57.11 Lakhs) threshold operates alongside sponsorship and role rules.
- An F-2 spouse may accompany the student, while the dependent category does not provide unrestricted employment authorisation.
- Permanent residence has no fixed graduation-based timeline, so do not treat Information Science admission as a settlement pathway.
Check Out: Cornell University Study Options in the USA
Visa reality: STEM status can extend practical training to 36 months, but sponsorship and permanent residence remain separate employer-led and government-led decisions.
Cornell Information Science fits students who want computing and data skills grounded in human behaviour, design and policy. Its concentration system can produce a distinctive portfolio, while coordinating CALS breadth and major requirements creates a meaningful planning tradeoff. The financial case depends on need-based aid because 2027-28 tuition remains unpublished despite encouraging Class of 2025 outcomes. Applicants should define a concentration-level problem, establish a four-year funding ceiling and choose the decision plan before completing Cornell’s supplement.
Cornell BS Information Science FAQs
Ques. Is Cornell Information Science worth its cost for an Indian student?
Ans. The programme is most defensible when one concentration supports a specific target role and the final aid package keeps four-year borrowing manageable. The prior-cycle one-year illustration is US$111,364 (INR 1.06 Crore), while the Class of 2025 mean starting salary was US$98,000 (INR 93.28 Lakhs). These figures have different scopes, so they cannot support a simple payback forecast.
Ques. How does the Cornell Information Science BS differ from the BA and ISST?
Ans. CALS awards this BS and adds science, communication, humanities and social-science foundations around the shared Information Science core. Arts and Sciences awards a BA with liberal-arts distribution requirements. Engineering’s Information Science, Systems, and Technology BS uses a more engineering-focused curriculum with seven core courses, two electives and two concentrations.
Ques. How competitive is Cornell BS Information Science admission?
Ans. Cornell publishes no course-specific admit rate or first-year minimum grade, so a numerical probability would be unsupported. A credible CALS application needs calculus, laboratory science and required testing. It should also show why the applicant wants to examine technology through people, organisations or society rather than presenting only coding achievements.
Ques. Should an applicant choose Early Decision or Regular Decision?
Ans. Early Decision suits an applicant treating Cornell as the unambiguous first choice who can accept a binding result after aid review. Regular Decision preserves university and funding comparisons. Because the August 2027 application is not yet open, confirm the recurring 1 November 2026 and 2 January 2027 dates before submission.
Ques. Which concentration offers the strongest career fit?
Ans. The answer depends on the intended evidence portfolio rather than the largest Class of 2025 employment sector. Data Science supports analytical work, UX supports interface research and Information Ethics, Law, and Policy supports governance questions. Choose courses, projects and internships that demonstrate one coherent problem-solving direction while retaining the programme’s interdisciplinary breadth.
Important Alert
- Early Decision Application Deadline for 2027 Intake - Nov 1, 2026
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $71266 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Housing | $13246 |
| Food | $7132 |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $71266 |
| 2024 | $68380 |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Early Decision Application Deadline for 2027 Intake | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Regular Decision Application Deadline 2027 Intake | Jan 2, 2027 |
Scores Required
Required Document List
Complete Application
Application Fee
Official Transcripts
English Language Requirements
Documentation of Financial Support
Three Recommendation Letter

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TOP Scholarships
| Scholarship name | Award amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell Endowed Scholarships | Varies | Undergraduate students who are eligible for a Cornell grant may also be eligible for named endowed scholarships. |
Key Resources for Your Study Abroad Journey
Options Available
| Program | Delivery Type | Duration | Program Type | Tuition Fees |
| B.S Information Science Systems and Technology | full time | 4 years | on-campus | $73486 |
Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comindware Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 4,000/Yr$4,000 | Level Of StudyApprenticeship | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Axol Science Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 2,000/Yr$2,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCompany-Sponsored | |
| VueVille Future Technology Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| R&D Systems Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,500/Yr$1,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
Similar Programs
| Program | Important Date | Total Fees | Median Exams Score | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
-- | USD 60,946 /Yr |
| ||
-- | USD 64,730 /Yr |
|
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