After Cornell: graduation, pay and debt
Ithaca, New York · Private · 15,995 undergrads
95% of Cornell students finish within six years, the typical student earns $113,531 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $12,000 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$113.5k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
95%
finish within six years.
87%
finish in four years.
98%
of first-years come back for year two.
$12k
median federal debt at graduation.
88%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
87%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
95%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
98%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
95%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
96%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
3,336
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
95%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
3%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
3,279
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$97,242
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$113,531
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
85%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$12,000
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$13,000
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$10,000
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$14,250
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
88%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
88%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
91%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- GPA, early rounds and wait list: Common Data Set, fall 2025 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Deadlines: admissions.cornell.edu, 2026-27 (checked Nov 5, 2026)
- Test rule: admissions.cornell.edu, fall 2027 (checked Nov 2, 2026)
Updated Nov 5, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers