Ithaca, NY · Private University
Is Cornell University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$104,043
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$66,014
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$66,014
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$264,056
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.58x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.8 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
95.1%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$14,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$32,337
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Cornell University graduates earn $59,043 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Cornell University ranked by graduate earnings
282 graduates
52 graduates
43 graduates
30 graduates
61 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Cornell University
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Cornell University, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $185,679) and the lowest (Animal Sciences: $39,634) is $146,045/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceBest ROI | $185,679 | 2.8x |
| Operations Research | $129,529 | 2.0x |
| Mathematics | $127,962 | 1.9x |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | $119,329 | 1.8x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $118,743 | 1.8x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $118,342 | 1.8x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $113,850 | 1.7x |
| Economics | $107,248 | 1.6x |
| Chemical Engineering | $105,514 | 1.6x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,093 | 1.5x |
| Civil Engineering | $95,056 | 1.4x |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $94,446 | 1.4x |
| Public Policy Analysis | $88,830 | 1.4x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $88,538 | 1.3x |
| Statistics(1yr data) | $82,531 | 1.3x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $81,947 | 1.2x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $80,616 | 1.2x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $76,992 | 1.2x |
| Area Studies | $75,147 | 1.1x |
| History | $72,818 | 1.1x |
| Political Science and Government | $72,438 | 1.1x |
| Food Science and Technology | $70,212 | 1.1x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $69,029 | 1.1x |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $66,043 | 1.0x |
| Psychology, General | $64,146 | 1.0x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $63,028 | 0.9x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $61,634 | 0.9x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering(1yr data) | $61,397 | 0.9x |
| Chemistry | $60,338 | 0.9x |
| Nutrition Sciences | $58,713 | 0.9x |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $58,532 | 0.9x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $58,440 | 0.9x |
| Physics(1yr data) | $50,933 | 0.8x |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology(1yr data) | $50,428 | 0.8x |
| Biology, General | $49,786 | 0.8x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,481 | 0.7x |
| Agriculture, General | $48,476 | 0.7x |
| Sociology | $47,518 | 0.7x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities(1yr data) | $46,072 | 0.7x |
| Public Health(1yr data) | $44,516 | 0.7x |
| Plant Sciences | $40,438 | 0.6x |
| Animal SciencesLowest | $39,634 | 0.6x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | 1.58x | $104,043 | Good ROI |
| University of Notre Dame | 1.59x | $99,980 | Good ROI |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1.69x | $111,371 | Good ROI |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 1.48x | $102,491 | Average ROI |
| Yale University | 1.55x | $100,533 | Good ROI |
| Georgetown University | 1.59x | $103,494 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
Cornell University offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $104,043 10 years after starting — $59,043 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.8 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.