Get a head start on college by earning credits during Cornell Precollege's online Winter and Summer Sessions . You can choose from dozens of university courses, work with Cornell instructors, study alongside undergraduates, and improve your college study skills.
Online Courses
Choose from three- or six-week online undergraduate courses in which you'll earn transferrable credits in a variety of subjects taught by some of Cornell's best instructors.
Online courses are delivered via the Canvas management system. You'll interact with the instructor and other students via email, discussion boards, interactive chat rooms, video conferences, and/or phone.
Online courses are offered synchronously and/or asynchronously.
OL/Online Learning (async+sync)
- Delivered completely online.
- Required class components (such as lectures, labs, discussions, etc.) may be delivered in pre-recorded (asynchronous) and/or live (synchronous) modes. For example, an instructor may provide pre-recorded lecture materials that you view on your own schedule but require that you attend live discussions at scheduled times. Note: You are expected to participate in live, prescheduled (synchronous) sessions.
AD/Online — Asynchronous (async)
- Features well-designed, pre-recorded (asynchronous) content that you may access at any time, on your own schedule.
- The class will have periodic assignments and/or exam deadlines that must be met.
SD/Online — Synchronous (sync)
- Features well-designed content, live interactions, and required class components (such as lectures, labs, discussions, etc.) that you access at pre-scheduled times. For example, during a six-week summer class, your instructor might deliver lectures from 10:00–11:00 a.m. on Mondays–Fridays and hold discussions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-2:15 p.m.
- These sessions will be delivered live via videoconferencing software (e.g., Zoom). Note: You are expected to participate in live, prescheduled (synchronous) sessions.
If you’re selected for one of Cornell's Precollege Programs, you’ll join about 1,000 other high school students from around the world.
Cornell’s Precollege online classes are credit-bearing Cornell University courses. The grades and credits earned through these courses are recorded on an official Cornell transcript. As such, these classes — and all credit-bearing offerings — are subject to the Cornell tuition rate set by the university's Board of Trustees.
Tuition is $1,940 per credit for fall 2025 through summer 2026.
Example: A three-credit course at $1,940 per credit = $5,820.
Some online courses may also charge nonrefundable course fees to cover mandatory items such as reading materials or course supplies.
I was so scared on the first day that the class would be very hard and that I wouldn't make any friends. However, two days in I didn't even think of my family or become homesick. I had made a new family (and so quickly). I had bonded with so many people so quickly. I am not the most social person, but this program helped me become more confident and just obnoxiously loud. I experienced so many things in the three weeks, and it truly did feel like home. I loved the campus, my class, and the people. I was around my friends from when I woke up to the second I went to bed. I never thought I would have so much fun. This was an amazing and life changing experience, and I miss it so much!!! Also the class I took, Sustainable Animal Husbandry, was not overly difficult, and I did not spend every second studying. I spent more time going to Collegetown or getting lost on our way to Ithaca with my friends. They became family at the end of my time there, and I never thought I could have so much fun in such a short amount of time. I love Cornell and have decided to apply ED!!