AAP's 954 students come from all corners of the world, representing 59 countries and 43 states. With backgrounds as athletes, human rights activists, researchers, volunteers, and leaders of every kind, this diverse body brings unique perspectives and experiences that encourage discourse and exploration that is equally expansive. However, for many students, the cost to attend AAP is prohibitive. In addition, the college must stay competitive to draw top talent. Harvard, Yale, Columbia, MIT, Stanford, and other peers have greater resources to compete for the best students. For many of these prospective students, financial support is a deciding factor in the choice between our college and a peer school. Further, students thrive academically and personally when they have the freedom to explore the student experience fully, to take on new challenges and opportunities, and to broaden their perspectives. A more affordable education enables them to pursue international study, research, fellowships, and career development, and to consider graduate and professional degrees and community engagement opportunities.

As the competition for top talent intensifies among the world's leading design schools, so too does the cost to compete. Of all AAP students enrolled in Fall 2022, approximately 253 students (44%) received need-based financial grant/scholarship aid from Cornell sources. The college spends nearly $11 million annually to meet the financial need of undergraduate students, of which only 5% is met by endowed scholarships and gifts earmarked specifically for AAP.

Scholarship support for undergraduate and graduate students would enhance Cornell and AAP's power to attract talented architects, artists, planners, urbanists, and scholars. Gifts toward scholarships would enable the college to fully support our students' varied set of needs and would also reduce the student debt burden upon graduation, leaving all possible career choices open for students to empower their creative contributions and professional impact.