Cornell University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Ithaca, New York
Net price / year
$28,690
after grants & scholarships
higher than 75% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
9%
Graduation rate
95%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 99% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$113,372
4 years after graduating
higher than 98% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges
Cornell University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Cornell University?
- Undergraduate tuition and fees are $69,314 for the 2024-25 academic year.
- What is the cost of attendance at Cornell University?
- The average cost of attendance is $88,140 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Cornell University?
- The average net price is $28,690 a year after grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Cornell University?
- About 9% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- What SAT and ACT scores are typical at Cornell University?
- The middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores had an SAT total of about 1500–1570 and an ACT composite of 33–35 (fall 2024). Test policy reported: Considered if submitted, but not required.
- What is the graduation rate at Cornell University?
- 95% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Cornell University earn?
- The median graduate earns $113,372 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- Graduates earn a median $113,372 four years after finishing, more than 98% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges.
- 95% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 99% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges.
- Only 9% of applicants are admitted, which makes this a highly selective school.
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- At $28,690 a year, the average net price is higher than 75% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges.
Tuition and cost of attendance at Cornell University
Average net price
$28,690 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Cornell University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$114,760
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $1,776
- $30–48k $4,070
- $48–75k $6,796
- $75–110k $14,311
- $110k+ $49,992
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $88,140
- Tuition & fees$69,314
- Books & supplies$1,226
- Room & board$19,428
- Other expenses$2,182
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $69,314
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $69,314
Cornell University acceptance rate and SAT/ACT scores
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Cornell University
Graduation rate
95%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
98%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$148
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
1.5 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.1×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 1.6%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 95%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $67,090 · median $104,043 · 75th percentile $166,446
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 3,361 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 29%
- Making progress 18%
- Not making progress 6%
- Delinquent 1%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 35%
- Deferment 10%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
3,361 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Cornell University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 296 | $223,309 | 1 yr$152,6564 yrs$223,3095 yrs$219,827 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Above the U.S. median | $14,750 |
| Operations Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 81 | $151,709 | 1 yr$96,3774 yrs$151,7095 yrs$151,071 | U.S. median $122,531 U.S. middle half $80.2K–$181K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $147,241 | 1 yr$100,5164 yrs$147,2415 yrs$131,283 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Above the U.S. median | $14,725 |
| Agricultural Business and Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 159 | $145,218 | 1 yr$92,1634 yrs$145,2185 yrs$130,690 | U.S. median $66,647 U.S. middle half $48.6K–$90.4K · Above the U.S. median | $12,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 115 | $144,389 | 1 yr$103,6504 yrs$144,3895 yrs$140,860 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 126 | $137,935 | 1 yr$84,9674 yrs$137,9355 yrs$129,667 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $134,455 | 1 yr$87,2514 yrs$134,4555 yrs$162,763 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Above the U.S. median | $13,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $128,207 | 4 yrs$128,2075 yrs$115,100 | U.S. median $89,359 U.S. middle half $73.4K–$108.8K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Public Policy Analysis Bachelor's · Graduates: 49 | $126,767 | 1 yr$77,9064 yrs$126,7675 yrs$107,508 | U.S. median $73,721 U.S. middle half $53.3K–$104.1K · Above the U.S. median | $15,125 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $124,242 | 1 yr$78,3584 yrs$124,2425 yrs$152,425 | U.S. median $86,713 U.S. middle half $56.8K–$132.8K · Above the U.S. median | $15,500 |
Show all 40 programs
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $118,649 | 1 yr$50,9334 yrs$118,649 | U.S. median $76,786 U.S. middle half $51.8K–$102.9K · Above the U.S. median | $15,961 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $116,165 | 1 yr$85,5784 yrs$116,1655 yrs$118,510 | U.S. median $98,158 U.S. middle half $80.3K–$118K · Above the U.S. median | $14,361 |
| Human Resources Management and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 280 | $112,713 | 1 yr$73,4364 yrs$112,7135 yrs$120,368 | U.S. median $68,069 U.S. middle half $50.2K–$90.6K · Above the U.S. median | $14,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 165 | $112,289 | 1 yr$77,8034 yrs$112,2895 yrs$98,785 | U.S. median $56,726 U.S. middle half $41K–$73.8K · Above the U.S. median | $13,086 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 117 | $112,212 | 1 yr$85,4404 yrs$112,2125 yrs$113,983 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Above the U.S. median | $15,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $111,090 | 1 yr$82,5314 yrs$111,090 | U.S. median $92,425 U.S. middle half $64.6K–$125.5K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample | $103,016 | 1 yr$69,5584 yrs$103,0165 yrs$87,212 | U.S. median $81,171 U.S. middle half $68.9K–$95.2K · Above the U.S. median | $13,176 |
| Agricultural Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $99,600 | 1 yr$54,4354 yrs$99,6005 yrs$102,051 | U.S. median $84,624 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$103.9K · Above the U.S. median | $14,814 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $96,976 | 1 yr$43,8314 yrs$96,9765 yrs$81,545 | U.S. median $56,625 U.S. middle half $37.2K–$78.5K · Above the U.S. median | $17,250 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 73 | $95,391 | 1 yr$60,2924 yrs$95,3915 yrs$87,361 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Above the U.S. median | $14,400 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $94,967 | — | U.S. median $57,640 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$75.9K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $91,242 | 1 yr$80,2614 yrs$91,2425 yrs$100,258 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Above the U.S. median | $12,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $89,275 | 1 yr$33,4194 yrs$89,2755 yrs$81,245 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median | $15,610 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 64 | $88,463 | 1 yr$62,1824 yrs$88,4635 yrs$89,715 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Above the U.S. median | $14,400 |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 93 | $85,883 | 1 yr$38,8414 yrs$85,8835 yrs$85,225 | U.S. median $65,681 U.S. middle half $42.8K–$90.9K · Above the U.S. median | $13,210 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $84,147 | 1 yr$64,0624 yrs$84,1475 yrs$84,555 | U.S. median $70,873 U.S. middle half $54.1K–$88.2K · Above the U.S. median | $14,749 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $82,031 | 1 yr$44,7064 yrs$82,0315 yrs$88,845 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Above the U.S. median | $17,110 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $79,311 | 1 yr$28,3724 yrs$79,3115 yrs$60,338 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $15,121 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 39 | $78,049 | 1 yr$36,6304 yrs$78,0495 yrs$77,682 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $13,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $73,200 | 1 yr$36,7094 yrs$73,2005 yrs$65,655 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $11,650 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $73,066 | 1 yr$38,4014 yrs$73,0665 yrs$74,602 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $15,259 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology Bachelor's · Graduates: 37 | $71,914 | 1 yr$50,4284 yrs$71,914 | U.S. median $70,074 U.S. middle half $55.5K–$86.9K · Above the U.S. median | $17,315 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 142 | $69,083 | 1 yr$34,5004 yrs$69,0835 yrs$69,997 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 61 | $68,088 | 1 yr$41,6214 yrs$68,0885 yrs$61,505 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Above the U.S. median | $15,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $67,954 | 1 yr$53,4654 yrs$67,9545 yrs$56,857 | U.S. median $53,676 U.S. middle half $39K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $13,109 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $65,089 | 1 yr$33,2704 yrs$65,0895 yrs$70,443 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Above the U.S. median | $16,300 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $60,728 | 1 yr$30,5084 yrs$60,7285 yrs$66,100 | U.S. median $60,053 U.S. middle half $43.2K–$76.8K · Above the U.S. median | $13,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $58,960 | 1 yr$32,2364 yrs$58,9605 yrs$50,679 | U.S. median $56,567 U.S. middle half $41.8K–$73.9K · Above the U.S. median | $14,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 62 | $52,967 | 1 yr$36,2044 yrs$52,9675 yrs$51,670 | U.S. median $49,634 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.9K · Above the U.S. median | $12,730 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $41,784 | 1 yr$31,0734 yrs$41,7845 yrs$73,168 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $15,500 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 31%
- Black or African American 6.8%
- Hispanic or Latino 13.2%
- Asian 26.8%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
- Two or more races 5.9%
- U.S. nonresident 9.6%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 6.4%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 45.4%
- Women 54.6%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
0%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 15,995
- Part-time students
- 1%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 18%
- Receive federal loans
- 18%
- Students per faculty member
- 9 : 1
- Setting
- City
Similar colleges
Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.
-
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY
Net price $21,590Earnings $115,519
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
Net price $29,278Earnings $87,197
-
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY
Net price $36,228Earnings $98,311
-
New York University
New York, NY
Net price $37,050Earnings $89,427
-
Northeastern University
Boston, MA
Net price $30,915Earnings $101,903
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Net price $28,699Earnings $124,586
Where it ranks
This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in New York
In New York
National rankings
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Cornell University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Cornell University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $69,314. This is the published price before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Cornell University?
The average cost of attendance at Cornell University is $88,140 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $28,690 a year. That is higher than 75% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Cornell University get?
18% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 18% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $1,776 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $49,992 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Cornell University?
Cornell University admitted about 9% of applicants in fall 2024. That makes admission highly selective.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Cornell University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% had an SAT total of about 1500–1570 and an ACT composite of 33–35 (fall 2024). That is a guide, not a cutoff. Reported test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Cornell University?
95% of first-time, full-time students at Cornell University finish within 150% of normal time. 98% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Cornell University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $113,372 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $70,710.
Is Cornell University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Cornell University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $14,000, about 0.1 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 95% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things