Cornell is unique: Although it's an Ivy League university, chartered as a private institution, it includes undergraduate colleges and schools that receive some funding from New York State. They are sometimes called state contract colleges. The state subsidy results in lower tuition for students who have New York State residency and are enrolled in these colleges or schools. The state-assisted colleges and schools are:

• Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Cornell University College of Human Ecology
• Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
• Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
• Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

The other Cornell undergraduate colleges and schools, sometimes called the endowed colleges, rely on private support. They are:
 

• Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
• Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
• Cornell University College of Engineering
• Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration

Despite the differences in funding for the undergraduate colleges and schools, all Cornell students enjoy the same quality of academic and campus life and are free to choose elective courses in the other colleges and schools. Students applying to Cornell should select the program that most interests them or that best meets their academic needs, whether it's privately-endowed or state-assisted.