Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Cornell University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 13% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 99th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NY wage index 1.10). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Cornell University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $152,656 | $223,309 | +109% | #3 of 349 | #2 | $14,750 |
| Operations Research | $96,377 | $151,709 | +24% | — | — | $15,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,516 | $147,241 | +46% | #4 of 258 | #5 | $14,725 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $92,163 | $145,218 | +118% | #1 of 77 | #1 | $12,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $103,650 | $144,389 | +56% | #18 of 459 | #19 | $15,500 |
| Economics | $84,967 | $137,935 | +67% | #12 of 368 | #13 | $15,000 |
| Mathematics | $87,251 | $134,455 | +93% | #7 of 309 | #6 | $13,500 |
| Engineering | — | $128,207 | +43% | #2 of 57 | #2 | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | $77,906 | $126,767 | +72% | #1 of 34 | #1 | $15,125 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | $78,358 | $124,242 | +43% | — | — | $15,500 |
| Physics | $50,933 | $118,649 | +55% | #2 of 107 | #3 | $15,961 |
| Chemical Engineering | $85,578 | $116,165 | +18% | #4 of 158 | #30 | $14,361 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $73,436 | $112,713 | +66% | #1 of 187 | #1 | $14,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $77,803 | $112,289 | +98% | #1 of 137 | #1 | $13,086 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $85,440 | $112,212 | +22% | #9 of 318 | #27 | $15,500 |
| Statistics | $82,531 | $111,090 | +20% | #8 of 50 | #10 | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $69,558 | $103,016 | +27% | #1 of 46 | #1 | $13,176 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $54,435 | $99,600 | +18% | #1 of 26 | #3 | $14,814 |
| Area Studies | $43,831 | $96,976 | +71% | #1 of 70 | #1 | $17,250 |
| Political Science and Government | $60,292 | $95,391 | +51% | #7 of 565 | #17 | $14,400 |
| Apparel and Textiles | — | $94,967 | +65% | #1 of 57 | #1 | — |
| Civil Engineering | $80,261 | $91,242 | +5% | #47 of 233 | #108 | $12,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $33,419 | $89,275 | +62% | #4 of 225 | #6 | $15,610 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $62,182 | $88,463 | +57% | #3 of 660 | #4 | $14,400 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | $38,841 | $85,883 | +31% | #3 of 17 | #9 | $13,210 |
| Food Science and Technology | $64,062 | $84,147 | +19% | #2 of 29 | #5 | $14,749 |
| History | $44,706 | $82,031 | +62% | #9 of 459 | #9 | $17,110 |
| Chemistry | $28,372 | $79,311 | +22% | #22 of 209 | #32 | $15,121 |
| Psychology | $36,630 | $78,049 | +54% | #6 of 1027 | #13 | $13,000 |
| Sociology | $36,709 | $73,200 | +39% | #9 of 462 | #11 | $11,650 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $38,401 | $73,066 | +50% | #1 of 172 | #1 | $15,259 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $50,428 | $71,914 | +3% | #8 of 22 | #11 | $17,315 |
| Biology | $34,500 | $69,083 | +21% | #111 of 841 | #173 | $15,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $41,621 | $68,088 | +24% | #23 of 265 | #30 | $15,500 |
| Agriculture | $53,465 | $67,954 | +27% | #3 of 43 | #4 | $13,109 |
| English Language and Literature | $33,270 | $65,089 | +34% | #27 of 576 | #29 | $16,300 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $61,397 | — | — | — | — | $15,500 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $30,508 | $60,728 | +1% | #27 of 53 | #26 | $13,250 |
| Plant Sciences | $32,236 | $58,960 | +4% | #17 of 44 | #27 | $14,250 |
| Animal Sciences | $36,204 | $52,967 | +7% | #23 of 78 | #38 | $12,730 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $46,072 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Public Health | $44,516 | — | — | — | — | $12,133 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $31,073 | $41,784 | +1% | #205 of 423 | #265 | $15,500 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | $37,131 | — | — | — | — | $12,952 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Cornell University Town Property Report
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🏆 Where Cornell University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $65,204 | $65,204 |
| Room | $11,562 | |
| Board | $6,942 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $88,140 | $88,140 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Cornell University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Cornell University?
How much does it cost to attend Cornell University?
What is the graduation rate at Cornell University?
Is Cornell University a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (A+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Cornell University?
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🎓 Similar Colleges to Cornell University
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology