Cornell University is the land-grant university for New York State. It is home to four contract colleges and schools that were created by an Act of the New York State Legislature. Each contract college enjoys the benefits of being part of a private, Ivy League university, while being connected to The State University of New York.
The land-grant mission of the university includes a commitment to make contributions in all fields of knowledge to help improve the quality of life in the state, the nation, the world. In return, the state contributes a portion of the operating expenses of the contract colleges. This allows the contract colleges to keep the cost of tuition lower for New York State residents, making their Cornell degrees more affordable.