Student News

Early Financial Aid Without FAFSA? Cornell College Sets New Trend

Midwest college launches program to provide greater college cost transparency.

Kathryn Knight Randolph

July 03, 2025

Cornell College initiates Save Your Seat program, an opportunity for prospective students to see their financial aid eligibility before they apply.
FAFSA delays, increasing college costs, and uncertain economic times have put a strain on students and families heading to college in the next few years. It’s a perfect storm of college affordability, but one Midwest college is hoping to circumvent it by providing prospective students with greater transparency into their college costs. Cornell College, in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is preemptively sending students financial aid estimates before they even apply through their Save Your Seat program. Doing so is a win-win: the college hopes to recruit more students this way and students are provided with a real look at what the college will cost through financial aid and scholarship incentives.

What is Early Financial Aid?

Early admissions and decisions have been offered to students for decades now, but could early financial aid be the next college application trend? Through Cornell’s Save Your Seat program, students are sent a financial aid estimate well before they apply, which the college is hoping will show that it really is an affordable option as students are choosing where to apply. Wendy Beckemeyer, Cornell’s vice president of enrollment management, stated in a press release from the school, “High sticker prices and horror stories about students accumulating huge college debt loads have created a narrative that questions whether college is affordable. With Save Your Seat, we are striving to be fully transparent with families about the numbers. When the numbers are spelled out clearly, they’re often surprised that the education they were hoping for–one that will empower their student for a lifetime of career success–is within reach.”

Cornell College’s Early Financial Aid Guarantee

Using historical data, the college was able to send out estimates to over 20,000 students in the school’s “inquiry pool,” according to Forbes. These are students who have indicated some interest in the school, whether that’s through email marketing, college visits, college fairs, or social media. In addition to the financial aid estimate, prospective students were notified of the Cornell College’s scholarship opportunities, like the annual National Academic Scholarship for U.S. residents, which is a minimum $33,000 per school year for students who meet and maintain specific academic standards. Additionally, students may qualify for federal and state grants and aid. Forbes reports that students who plan to attend in Fall 2026 can apply and confirm their admission before September 1, 2025. Doing so guarantees them Cornell’s National Academic Scholarship and any need-based aid for which they qualify. These students will also be given priority for housing assignments and first-year seminars.

Could More Colleges Follow Cornell’s Lead?

As college enrollment numbers continue to decline, more schools may take note of Cornell College’s proactive financial aid offer and implement similar policies. These could range from tuition discounts to lucrative scholarship opportunities. This could be especially beneficial as uncertainty around economic and college costs continue. While the FAFSA is expected to launch on October 1, 2025, this comes after years of delays and the most recent Trump Administration disruption to the Department of Education. For multiple application cycles, students and families have made college decisions completely blind to their final financial aid offers. Knowing college costs up front, before applying, could be an enticing option for many students and families.

How to Stay Ahead of Financial Aid Changes

For students and parents/guardians circumnavigating economic uncertainty and college application timelines, it’s best to be prepared and apply early. Research colleges during the sophomore and junior years of high school and narrow down your college list the summer before senior year. Fill out the FAFSA as soon as it becomes available, which is typically October 1 of each year. Most financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, especially state aid. Applying early guarantees that you’ll be offered the maximum amount of aid for which you’re eligible. Finally, look for ways to pay for college outside of financial aid, like scholarships. To find scholarships on Fastweb, create a profile, and we’ll match you to opportunities that you qualify for from our database of over 3.4 million scholarships. Commit to applying for 1-2 scholarships per week to increase your chances of winning awards to pay for college.

You Might Also Like

Kathryn Knight Randolph

Associate Content Editor

Kathryn Knight Randolph covers trends in higher education, changes to admissions and financial aid practices, and the student experience. She is passionate about simplifying the college search and financia...