Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Cornell University is a private national university located in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is extremely selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Cornell University is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $91,176 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in New York, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Cornell University bachelor students earn 30% more than the national average. Cornell University is ranked 20th in New York.
Cornell University’s median net annual cost of $37,042 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Cornell University sorted by number of graduates - Computer Science, Biology, HR Management, Hospitality Mgmt., Agricultural Bus. and Mgmt., Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$37,042
Average years to graduate
4.2
Electrical Engineering
Rank: #74
Economic score: 1.32
Computer science
Rank: #83
Economic score: 1.43
Operations Research.
Rank: #3
Economic score: 1.85
Economics
Rank: #68
Economic score: 1.93
Public Policy Analysis
Rank: #5
Economic score: 2.12
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #206
Economic score: 2.44
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #36
Economic score: 2.51
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #376
Economic score: 10.76
Animal Sciences.
Rank: #62
Economic score: 17.17
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #195
Economic score: 22.64
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Cornell University - Business Administration, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Operations Research., HR Management, Computer science - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Manufacturing Engineering
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.26
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #33
Economic score: 0.32
Engineering Fields
Rank: #22
Economic score: 0.4
Public Administration
Rank: #70
Economic score: 0.54
Civil Engineering
Rank: #56
Economic score: 0.56
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #8
Economic score: 0.66
Urban/community planning
Rank: #18
Economic score: 0.67
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Rank: #21
Economic score: 0.71
Hospitality Mgmt.
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.79
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #123
Economic score: 0.8
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 95% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Cornell University is 28% higher than the state average, and 28% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Cornell University, Pell Grant recipients represent 17% of the measured graduating class, 18% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Cornell University graduates within 4.3 years.
Cornell University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Cornell University’s economic mobility score of 16.66 is calculated by adjusting the 0.25 economic score of lower-income students by the 17% pell grant recipients within the student body. Cornell University’s EMS of 16.66 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Cornell University pays $37,042 a year, $41,950 less than the $78,992 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $37,042
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Cornell University, 50% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $37,042 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 27% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,585. This is 27% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$3,924
Pell grants
$5,122
State grants
$3,540
Institutional grants
$50,341
Cornell University's extremely selective admissions are indicated by their 9% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 67,380 applicants, of which 5,852 were admitted and 3,718 enrolled. Cornell University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
53%
59%
First time
84%
59%
In-state
34%
68%
1st generation
15%
35%
White
35%
52%
Black
7%
14%
Hispanic
15%
15%
Asian
21%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
22%
12%