Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Cornell University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Cornell University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
39
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$163,839
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$83,196
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$1,968,893 | $158,076 | $83,196 | $14,698 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$1,192,062 | $119,329 | $83,196 | $16,099 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$999,243 | $109,597 | $83,196 | $14,750 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Operations Research.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$878,646 | $103,584 | $83,196 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$868,018 | $102,995 | $83,196 | $14,146 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$819,671 | $100,669 | $83,196 | $15,500 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$677,717 | $93,420 | $83,196 | $13,258 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$607,488 | $89,983 | $83,196 | $14,361 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Engineering, General.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$525,316 | $84,905 | $83,196 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$471,931 | $83,282 | $83,196 | $15,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$458,323 | $82,416 | $83,196 | $12,750 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$454,271 | $82,399 | $83,196 | $15,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Materials Engineering
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$377,356 | $78,722 | $83,196 | $18,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Human Resources Management and Services.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$343,986 | $76,851 | $83,196 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Public Policy Analysis.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$342,493 | $76,827 | $83,196 | $15,750 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$304,213 | $74,794 | $83,196 | $13,987 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
History.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$260,782 | $72,818 | $83,196 | $16,884 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Food Science and Technology.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$210,193 | $70,212 | $83,196 | $15,750 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Agricultural Engineering.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$202,868 | $69,829 | $83,196 | $15,502 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$186,871 | $69,029 | $83,196 | $15,500 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$109,531 | $65,089 | $83,196 | $14,418 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$81,288 | $63,588 | $83,196 | $13,102 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
+$21,976 | $59,738 | $83,196 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$166,395 | $51,275 | $83,196 | $14,157 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$202,115 | $49,497 | $83,196 | $14,275 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$209,440 | $49,325 | $83,196 | $17,153 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Nutrition Sciences.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$248,966 | $47,119 | $83,196 | $13,750 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$259,549 | $46,465 | $83,196 | $11,900 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$290,589 | $45,156 | $83,196 | $15,500 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$336,221 | $42,737 | $83,196 | $13,465 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Area Studies.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$366,217 | $41,518 | $83,196 | $17,625 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Agriculture, General.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$387,222 | $40,331 | $83,196 | $15,599 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$389,124 | $40,155 | $83,196 | $14,400 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$416,875 | $38,894 | $83,196 | $16,275 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$477,637 | $35,778 | $83,196 | $15,121 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$511,119 | $34,035 | $83,196 | $14,100 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$545,339 | $32,486 | $83,196 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$561,844 | $31,627 | $83,196 | $16,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Plant Sciences.
Grad rate: 95.2% |
-$604,730 | $29,482 | $83,196 | $15,990 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.