Physics

Cornell University

Department: Physics
Degree: PhD
Location: Ithaca, NY

Stipend

$48,912/yr Estimated

University-wide minimum, not confirmed for this department · Paid over 12 months · 2026-2027 · Underlying university-wide figure is official

Estimated: our estimate, not a published figure · Source: Cornell Graduate School: 2026-27 Stipend Rates · Verified 2026-09-27

Cost of living in Ithaca, NY

City-median rent is a city-level figure, not a near-campus price; university graduate housing lines are the university's own published rates. Each line is labeled with its own source.

Rent, 1-bedroom (university graduate housing, single occupant) $1,355 to $1,490/mo Official Studio $1,355; 1-bedroom $1,415-$1,490. 2026-27, 12-month contract, per unit. Gas, electric, trash and internet included. Source: Cornell Student & Campus Life: Housing Rates · Verified 2026-09-29
Rent, 1-bedroom (city median) $1,610/mo Estimated City median 1BR Source: Zumper city median asking rent (Sept 2026) · Verified 2026-09-27
Rent, 2-bedroom split two ways (university graduate housing, shared, per person) $620 to $910/mo Official Hasbrouck apartments per person: regular single bedroom $620; large single in a 2-bedroom townhouse $910. 2026-27, 12-month contract. Gas, electric, trash and internet (up to 200 GB) included. Not guaranteed. Source: Cornell Student & Campus Life: Housing Rates · Verified 2026-09-29
Rent, 2-bedroom split two ways (city median) $1,195/mo Estimated City median 2BR, split two ways Source: Zumper city median asking rent (Sept 2026) · Verified 2026-09-27
Utilities (nearest-metro stand-in) $234/mo Estimated Nearest-metro proxy (Syracuse). No Numbeo figure for this town; Syracuse stand-in. Excludes internet. Source: Numbeo (Americas table, Sept 27 2026) · Verified 2026-09-27
Public transit $45/mo Official TCAT retail monthly pass Source: TCAT fare and pass options · Verified 2026-09-27
Public transit Free with student ID Official TCAT OmniRide free for doctoral students and graduate assistants. Other students can buy OmniRide for $200/yr. Source: Cornell FCS: bus services and passes · Verified 2026-09-27
Parking $0 to $753/yr Official Free A/E permit for assistantship-funded graduate students living off campus; residence-area permit $752.98. Graduate students funded by an assistantship can buy the same permits as faculty and staff, including a no-fee A or E permit (not available to residents). Students living in university housing pay $752.98 per year for a residence-area permit. Commuter permit prices are shown only at purchase. The page does not state the academic year. Source: Cornell Transportation and Mail Services: Parking for Students · Verified 2026-09-28
Groceries Not yet available

About this department

Summaries are paraphrased from the department's own pages. Individual faculty are not listed here; use the official directory.

Confirm deadlines on the department's own page before applying.

Department Department of Physics Official Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
Degrees offered
- PhD
Official
Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
Overview Cornell's physics department runs a PhD program spanning accelerator, particle, condensed-matter, astrophysics, biological and physics education research. Doctoral students typically finish within six years. Official Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
Research areas
- Accelerator Physics
- Astrophysics, General Relativity and Cosmology
- Biological Physics
- Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
- Experimental Elementary Particle Physics
- Physics Education Research
- Theoretical Condensed-Matter Physics
- Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics
Official
Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
Faculty Faculty directory (official) Official Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
PhD funding (department statement) Full financial support is provided for the duration of graduate study (the FAQ says 6 years) for students in good academic standing who make satisfactory progress and perform assistantship duties satisfactorily. Support comes from Cornell fellowships, external fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships; qualified external fellowships replace internal funding. Official Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
PhD application deadline December 15 (all materials must be received by Cornell) Official Deadlines vary by department. This date is for Department of Physics. Confirm on the official admissions page. The page does not state the cycle year or a time of day. Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
GRE policy The physics GRE is required for applicants with interests in theoretical physics (theoretical astrophysics, theoretical elementary particle physics, theoretical condensed matter physics); there is no cutoff score. The physics GRE is not considered for experimental physics or physics education research applicants. The general GRE is not considered for any applicants. Official Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23
Application requirements
- Cornell Graduate School application ($105 fee)
- three letters of recommendation (at least two from physics professors recommended)
- academic statement of purpose (max 1,000 words)
- personal statement
- transcripts
- TOEFL/IELTS for international applicants
- Physics Course Supplement form
- CV
- physics GRE score (theory applicants only)
- video response question on physics research.
Official
Source: physics.cornell.edu · Verified 2026-10-23

Master's tuition

Published tuition (before any aid). PhD students usually have tuition waived; their offer letter confirms. This is not part of the stipend-versus-cost-of-living comparison.

Master's tuition at Cornell University Not yet available