Cornell University

What are the graduation rates for students at Cornell University?

Cornell's reported undergraduate graduation outcomes are high: 87% graduated within four years and 95% within six years in the cited IPEDS measures. Its reported first-year retention rate was 98%.

These graduation measures track a defined cohort of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduates; they do not describe the completion rate of every transfer student, part-time student, or graduate student. The four- and six-year figures are different checkpoints for comparable undergraduate cohorts, not separate types of degrees. A student considering a transfer, study abroad, or a highly sequenced major should examine that college's degree requirements when planning a realistic time to completion.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Cornell University?

Field-of-study earnings figures show substantial variation among Cornell programs, but they are not salary promises. College Scorecard figures reported for one year after completion include a median of $127,764 for computer science and $66,090 for hospitality administration and management. The corresponding reported figure for biology is $29,066.

These are program-level median earnings for federally aided completers included in the federal measurement, generally among those with earnings who are not enrolled in further education at the measurement point. A median is the middle reported value, not what every graduate earns. Program figures can reflect different degree levels, graduate-school attendance, occupations, locations, and cohort sizes. One-year earnings are especially limited for fields in which further study or professional training is common.