Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York. 15,995 undergraduates. Admits 9% of applicants.

95%Graduation rate40 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$33,934Average net price per year71% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$113,531Median earnings 10 years after starting93% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$12,000Median debt at graduation44% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($12,000) equals 11% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($113,531). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$6,371
$30,000–$48,000$6,152
$48,001–$75,000$6,797
$75,001–$110,000$13,422
Over $110,000$55,935

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $72,270.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate95%54%
Return for second year98%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$97,242$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$113,531$58,912
Median debt at graduation$12,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

211 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science312$175,401$250,149—
Business Administration, Management and Operations537$196,713$235,273—
Operations Research149$130,294$202,072—
Computer and Information Sciences, General155$117,684$185,222—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management86$161,226——
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering153$136,971$159,374—
Human Resources Management and Services83$112,732$152,442—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions——$148,542—
Systems Engineering124$127,771$145,222—
Real Estate21$144,319——
Mechanical Engineering94$112,830$144,078—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering107$86,865$129,920—
Health and Medical Administrative Services70$117,795$129,143—
Hospitality Administration/Management95$90,501$118,174—
Public Administration129$81,852$113,010—
Engineering-Related Fields80$105,720——
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering28$100,632——
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods432$96,697——
Civil Engineering39$88,428——
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning0$82,512$87,861—
Architecture0—$84,763—
Economics65$71,347——
Public Health55$71,140——
Agriculture, General26$69,721——
Landscape Architecture22$68,242——
Architectural Sciences and Technology69$65,346——
Animal Sciences13———
Food Science and Technology24———
Plant Sciences16———
Natural Resources Conservation and Research6———
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation1———
Area Studies8———
Communication and Media Studies5———
Agricultural Engineering13———
Chemical Engineering40———
Engineering Mechanics1———
Engineering Physics11———
Materials Engineering49———
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians2———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services7———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics10———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics5———
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services7———
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies205———
English Language and Literature, General14———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies7———
Biology, General1———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology2———
Botany/Plant Biology5———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology4———
Zoology/Animal Biology2———
Mathematics9———
Applied Mathematics6———
Statistics67———
Historic Preservation and Conservation5———
Medieval and Renaissance Studies3———
Science, Technology and Society1———
Nutrition Sciences5———
Sustainability Studies53———
Philosophy6———
Astronomy and Astrophysics4———
Chemistry44———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences5———
Physics23———
Research and Experimental Psychology23———
Community Organization and Advocacy2———
Anthropology5———
Archeology4———
International Relations and National Security Studies15———
Political Science and Government8———
Sociology9———
Social Sciences, Other3———
Design and Applied Arts5———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft3———
Fine and Studio Arts2———
Music4———
History2———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

9%Admission rate
1,535Average SAT of admitted students
33–35ACT middle 50%
9:1Students per faculty member
22%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Cornell University cost per year?
The average net price at Cornell University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $33,934 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Cornell University graduates earn?
Former Cornell University students earn a median of $113,531 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell University?
95% of Cornell University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Cornell University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Cornell University is $12,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.