Graduates of Cornell University earn median earnings of $113,372 four years after enrollment, placing Cornell University in the 99.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $8,583 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cornell University in the 83.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cornell University #13 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Cornell University's concentration in quantitative and applied fields. Computer Science is the dominant program family, representing 12% of degree output, with Business at 12% and Social Sciences at 9%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #2 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology, with 504 graduates earning median earnings of $223,309 four years after enrollment. The Biology, General program graduates 290 students with median earnings of $69,083, and Azimuth ranks Human Resources Management and Services #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 282 graduates earning median earnings of $112,713. Further down the lineup, Hospitality Administration/Management (226 graduates, median earnings of $112,289) and Artificial Intelligence (220 graduates, median earnings of $144,389) round out the highest-earning programs at Cornell University.
Graduates of Cornell University earn median earnings of $113,372 four years after enrollment, placing Cornell University in the 99.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $8,583 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cornell University in the 83.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cornell University #13 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Cornell University's concentration in quantitative and applied fields. Computer Science is the dominant program family, representing 12% of degree output, with Business at 12% and Social Sciences at 9%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #2 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology, with 504 graduates earning median earnings of $223,309 four years after enrollment. The Biology, General program graduates 290 students with median earnings of $69,083, and Azimuth ranks Human Resources Management and Services #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 282 graduates earning median earnings of $112,713. Further down the lineup, Hospitality Administration/Management (226 graduates, median earnings of $112,289) and Artificial Intelligence (220 graduates, median earnings of $144,389) round out the highest-earning programs at Cornell University.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of Cornell University earn median earnings of $113,372 four years after enrollment, placing Cornell University in the 99.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $8,583 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cornell University in the 83.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cornell University #13 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Cornell University's concentration in quantitative and applied fields. Computer Science is the dominant program family, representing 12% of degree output, with Business at 12% and Social Sciences at 9%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #2 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology, with 504 graduates earning median earnings of $223,309 four years after enrollment. The Biology, General program graduates 290 students with median earnings of $69,083, and Azimuth ranks Human Resources Management and Services #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 282 graduates earning median earnings of $112,713. Further down the lineup, Hospitality Administration/Management (226 graduates, median earnings of $112,289) and Artificial Intelligence (220 graduates, median earnings of $144,389) round out the highest-earning programs at Cornell University.
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of Cornell University earn median earnings of $113,372 four years after enrollment, placing Cornell University in the 99.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $8,583 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cornell University in the 83.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cornell University #13 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Cornell University's concentration in quantitative and applied fields. Computer Science is the dominant program family, representing 12% of degree output, with Business at 12% and Social Sciences at 9%. Computer Science combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #2 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology, with 504 graduates earning median earnings of $223,309 four years after enrollment. The Biology, General program graduates 290 students with median earnings of $69,083, and Azimuth ranks Human Resources Management and Services #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 282 graduates earning median earnings of $112,713. Further down the lineup, Hospitality Administration/Management (226 graduates, median earnings of $112,289) and Artificial Intelligence (220 graduates, median earnings of $144,389) round out the highest-earning programs at Cornell University.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Cornell University's program mix reflects the breadth of a major research university with deep roots in engineering, agriculture, and the applied sciences. Engineering accounts for 12% of graduates, Business accounts for 12%, and Social Sciences accounts for 9% — a portfolio that balances technical fields with broad liberal-arts and life-sciences enrollment. Across 61 programs serving roughly 4,213 students annually, 39 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest national ranks cluster in applied and quantitative fields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #2 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 504 graduates earning $223,309 — the highest four-year earnings at the institution. Azimuth ranks Agricultural Business and Management #1 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $145,218. Biology, General is another large program, graduating 290 students with median earnings of $69,083, while The Human Resources Management and Services program graduates 282 students at $112,713. Several of Cornell University's strongest programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly — particularly Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Economics, where four-year earnings reflect strong employer demand. Programs like Hospitality Administration/Management and Artificial Intelligence include a larger share of graduates who continue to graduate or professional school, meaning four-year earnings undercount the full trajectory. The supply-demand map provides context for how Cornell University's dominant program families align with national wage trends.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
