Physics at Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Bachelor's Degree · about 48 graduates a year
Cornell University graduates in physics earn 55% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 13% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Cornell University Compares for Physics
All 107 colleges reporting physics earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | $131,025 | $115,381 | #2 | $54,773 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $118,649 | $112,929 | #3 | $50,933 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | $110,029 | $118,041 | #1 | — |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | $103,477 | $111,046 | #4 | $62,647 |
| 5 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | $103,167 | $103,775 | #7 | $48,169 |
| 6 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | $103,167 | $103,775 | #8 | $48,169 |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA | $99,842 | $91,833 | #15 | $65,316 |
| 8 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA | $99,165 | $87,325 | #29 | — |
| 9 | Le Moyne College Syracuse, NY | $99,009 | $94,236 | #13 | — |
| 10 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | $96,805 | $88,086 | #22 | — |
Other Majors at Cornell University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Cornell University physics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $50,933 one year after graduating and $118,649 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Cornell University rank for physics?
Among 107 colleges reporting earnings for physics graduates, Cornell University ranks #2 by median pay four years after graduation, and #3 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is physics at Cornell University worth it?
Its graduates earn 55% more than the national median for physics ($76,786), and the median federal debt at graduation is $15,961.
← All data for Cornell University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.