Cornell University
Ithaca, New York · Private Nonprofit · 8.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 96/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Cornell scores a 96 (Exceptional Value). The combination of a 3.7-year payback period, $76,300 average 6-year earnings, 95.4% completion rate, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.183 makes a strong case on every metric. Median debt of $14,000 is low given that Cornell's sticker price is $69,314 - financial aid is doing real work here. Computer Science leads by earnings (507 graduates, $152,656 median at one year), but the school's unusual breadth means strong programs extend across hospitality (290 graduates), agricultural business (254 graduates), biology (254 graduates), human resources (273 graduates), and 12 other fields with A-grade ROI scores. Cornell's unusual statutory colleges (Agriculture, Industrial Labor Relations, Human Ecology) admit students as New York state residents at reduced tuition, which shapes both the affordability and program mix at a school otherwise priced for private-university budgets.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.7 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Cornell University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $69,314/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $69,314/yr |
| Average net price | $28,690/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $114,760 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $104,043 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $76,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $148 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 15,995 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $69,314/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,690/year, or roughly $114,760 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $1,776/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $49,992/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,000, which works out to about $148 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($76,300) and comes to 0.18, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $1,776 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,070 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,796 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,311 |
| $110,001+ | $49,992 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $1,776 per year. That is nearly free - Cornell's financial aid program meets essentially all demonstrated need for low-income students at sticker prices exceeding $69,000. For low-income students who can gain admission, the payback period is 3.7 years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $4,070 per year - still heavily subsidized. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $6,796, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket reaches $14,311. The slope from $30k to $110k income is gradual and generous: middle-income families pay a fraction of sticker across nearly the entire range.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $49,992 per year - about $200,000 all-in over four years. At a 3.7-year payback period and $76,300 average 6-year earnings, the full-pay case is financially sound for most high-earnings majors. The economics become more stretched for students pursuing lower-earning fields; Cornell's Biology graduates earn $34,500 at year one, which extends the payback considerably against a $200,000 investment.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Cornell University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $223,309 | A |
| Hospitality Administration | $112,289 | A |
| Human Resources Management | $112,713 | A |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $145,218 | A |
| Biology | $69,083 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $144,389 | A |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $85,883 | B+ |
| Economics | $137,935 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $112,212 | A |
| International Relations | $95,391 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Cornell CS has 507 graduates, $152,656 median at one year, and $223,309 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.096 (ROI grade A) - graduates borrow a median $14,698 and earn more than $150,000 immediately. The career path runs into software engineering, machine learning, and quantitative roles at major technology companies, financial institutions, and research organizations that actively recruit from Cornell's Ithaca campus.
Agricultural Business and Management
Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences houses agricultural business (254 graduates) - a program that outperforms its name. Median 1-year earnings of $92,163 and 4-year earnings of $145,218 reflect placement into agribusiness, food manufacturing, supply chain management, and financial roles within the food and agricultural sectors. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.144 (ROI grade A) is exceptional. New York state residents in this college pay in-state tuition at a statutory rate well below the private Cornell sticker, which further compresses the already-low debt load. An under-recognized path.
Hospitality Administration
Cornell's School of Hotel Administration shows the market's verdict in the Scorecard: 290 graduates, $77,803 median earnings at one year, $112,289 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.180 (ROI grade A) shows the economics are clean. Hospitality graduates enter hotel operations, real estate, finance, and corporate roles that the Cornell brand unlocks nationwide. The four-year figure ($112k) reflects how quickly hospitality alumni move into managerial and real estate tracks.
Economics
Cornell economics (157 graduates, ROI grade A) earns $84,967 at one year and $137,935 at four years. The school's NYC proximity and strong finance and consulting pipelines explain both figures: economics majors from Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences go into investment banking, consulting, and economic research. Median debt of $15,500 and a 0.182 debt-to-earnings ratio make this a clean ROI trade.
Human Resources Management
The Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) school sends 273 Human Resources Management graduates into the workforce annually at $73,436 year-one and $112,713 at four years (ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings 0.204). ILR is the only undergraduate-focused labor relations school at a major research university, and graduates enter HR leadership, labor law, consulting, and policy roles at rates that explain the strong four-year earnings. For students interested in organizational dynamics and people operations, ILR at Cornell is the most specialized pipeline available.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 88.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Cornell University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 8.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 15,995 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $17,953 |
Cornell admits 8.76% of applicants. SAT Math 770-800 and Reading 730-770 are the mid-ranges; ACT 33-35. Students should expect that strong test scores are necessary but not sufficient - demonstrated research, accomplishment, or domain-specific excellence in the target college is typical for successful applicants.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Cornell's payback period is 3.7 years. Cornell's completion rate is 95.4%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University (this school) | 96 | $28,690 | $104,043 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| University of Southern California | 91 | $32,740 | $92,498 |
| Northeastern University | 91 | $30,915 | $92,538 |
| Boston University | 90 | $24,402 | $83,238 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Cornell University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster in the SAT 730-800 Math, 730-770 Reading range; ACT 33-35 composite. Cornell's 18.4% Pell rate and low median debt suggest financial aid is distributed broadly. Students with technical or applied interests (CS, engineering, operations research, agricultural science) see the strongest earnings outcomes. Cornell's hospitality program delivers $77,803 median 1-year earnings from 290 graduates - a non-obvious option for students who know what they want. Students without a clearly defined major may struggle in Cornell's sprawling college structure.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Cornell University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $114,760 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $104,043 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 3.7 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 95.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $14,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $76,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Cornell University: Common Questions
Is Cornell University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Cornell University pays off. It scores 96/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $28,690 a year after aid ($114,760 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $104,043 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 3.7 years to earn back.
How much does Cornell University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $28,690 a year, or roughly $114,760 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Cornell University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $104,043 ten years after enrolling, roughly $62,243 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Cornell University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 3.7 years for Cornell University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Cornell University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,000, against average earnings of $76,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Cornell University?
The six-year graduation rate is 95.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.