Cornell University

Veterans Summer Bridge Program

What is it?

Cornell University invites individuals who have served in the U.S. military and who are accepted to Cornell in the Undergraduate admissions process to participate in Cornell’s Veterans Summer Bridge Program (VSBP). The VSBP is an engaging experience designed to build community, introduce resources, and encourage and support those who have served. You will have an opportunity to take Cornell classes, meet faculty and staff, explore support resources, and get a head start on building community with fellow student veterans!

How will the program help me?

The VSBP provides a supportive foundation for the rest of your academic program at the Ivy League’s only federally designated land-grant university. A Cornell education combines the rigorous intellectual tradition of the Ivy League and the democratic spirit of our nation’s great public universities.

How are students selected?

Students may be required to attend due to an unmet prerequisite requirement or are invited to attend during the admissions process. Courses required or selected are determined by admissions or through conversations between the student and the student’s college/school advisor.

What do students in the program do?

Veterans engage in a focused summer program before fall semester, including two or three tuition-free, credit-bearing courses in the six-week Summer Session. 

  • One of these courses will be the Veteran’s Seminar.
  • Invited students may choose a third class; however, only one class can be STEM-based, i.e., calculus, chemistry, computer programming, biology, etc.  
  • Those required to attend may only enroll in the Veteran’s Seminar and their required class.
  • Social and community-building experiences coordinated by Cornell’s Veterans Program Director in partnership with the Student Veteran Ambassadors and the Warrior-Scholar Project offered at Cornell.
  • An orientation to life at Cornell and Ithaca, and an introduction to support services and offices through workshops, discussions, and other activities.

What are the costs?

Most of the costs of the VSBP are covered; participants do not need to use their GI Bill® benefits to participate. Cornell provides participants with:

  • Tuition and fees for Summer Session courses.
  • Housing accommodations and a meal plan for the duration of the program.
  • A travel stipend to defer the costs of traveling to Ithaca.
  • Access to college advisors and an advisor dedicated to working with Veterans.
  • Student Health Plan and fee for the summer, outings hosted by the Undergraduate Student Veteran Program Director and the Student Veteran Ambassadors. 

Important Dates

The program runs from Saturday, June 20 – Wednesday, August 5, 2026. 
For admissions deadlines, please visit the First-Year Application Timeline and Transfer Application Timeline.

Date

Description 

Saturday, June 20, 2026Move-in
Sunday, June 21, 2026VSBP Orientation
Monday, June 22 – Friday, July 31, 2026Six-week summer session class dates
Tuesday, August 4, 2026Last day of Finals
Wednesday, August 6, 2026VSBP Move-out