Cornell University Graduates: A Look at Career Outcomes
Cornell University consistently demonstrates exceptional graduation rates and prepares its students for a wide array of career paths. An annual survey conducted by the university provides valuable insights into the postgraduate activities of its graduates, offering a glimpse into their first destinations after completing their studies. These reports highlight employment sectors, salary ranges, and graduate school choices, painting a comprehensive picture of the opportunities available to Cornell alumni.
High Graduation Rates and Continued Success
Cornell University boasts an impressive overall graduation rate of 95%, placing it among the top 5% of universities nationwide. This high rate is consistent across genders, with both men and women achieving graduation rates of approximately 95-96%. Furthermore, Cornell maintains a six-year graduation rate of 95%, indicating sustained student persistence and success beyond the traditional four-year timeframe.
Employment Landscape for Cornell Graduates
The Class of 2024 reported entering 18 unique sectors following graduation, showcasing the diverse career paths pursued by Cornell alumni. According to the survey, 80% of the Class of 2024 responded (n=910). The primary status of these graduates was as follows:
- Employed: 64%
- Attending Graduate School: 31%
- Seeking Employment: 2%
- Other Endeavors: 3%
"Other Endeavors" includes preparing for graduate school, traveling, volunteering, and taking time off.
Several sectors emerged as popular choices for Cornell graduates:
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- Financial Services: 22%
- Technology: 14%
- Education: 12%
- Consulting/Professional Practice: 11%
- Human Healthcare Services: 11%
- Law: 6%
- Government: 6%
- Other Nonprofit Organization: 5%
- Communications/Media: 4%
- Retail: 3%
- Other: 2%
- Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals/Life Sciences: 1%
- Insurance: 1%
It is important to note that sectors not listed above had less than 1% of the graduating class employed. This distribution highlights the strong presence of Cornell graduates in finance, technology, and consulting, while also demonstrating their involvement in education, healthcare, and various other fields.
Top Employers of Cornell Graduates
A significant number of employers actively recruit Cornell graduates, with 376 unique employers hiring from the Class of 2024. Some of the top companies who hired Cornellians include:
- Cornell University
- Capital One
- JP Morgan Chase & Co.
- Morgan Stanley
- Goldman Sachs
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Citigroup
- PwC
- Weill Cornell Medicine
This list reflects the strong reputation of Cornell University and the high demand for its graduates in various industries.
Pursuing Advanced Degrees
Approximately one-third of Cornell graduates choose to pursue graduate studies immediately after graduation. The Class of 2024 reported entering 106 unique graduate fields, indicating a wide range of academic interests. Many Cornellians applying to law school do so a few years after college, typically within one to three years of graduation. For the past five years, a majority of graduates have entered the workforce upon graduation, while about 1/3 enter graduate school.
Salary Expectations and Earning Potential
Graduates from Cornell University experience a wide spectrum of earning potentials depending on their chosen field of study. The average salary across all fields for the Class of 2024 was $83,336, with a median of $80,000 and a high of $325,000.
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Among the highest earners are those who studied Computer Science, with average earnings reaching approximately $127,764. Engineering disciplines generally provide solid financial returns. Degrees such as Chemical Engineering ($74,126), Materials Engineering ($74,526), Mechanical Engineering ($72,114), and Civil Engineering ($67,621) all offer lucrative career prospects.
Fields connected to environmental and architectural design show competitive earnings as well. For example, Environmental Design graduates make an average of $58,069, while those in Architectural Sciences and Technology and Architecture earn about $57,023 and $52,794 respectively.
The business and social sciences present varied salary ranges. For instance, Agricultural Business and Management graduates earn approximately $78,005, whereas those pursuing Economics make an average of $69,416. Programs in Hospitality Administration/Management and Human Resources Management and Services offer earnings close to $66,090 and $65,696 respectively.
On the lower end of the earnings spectrum, degrees in the humanities and certain social sciences tend to have more modest incomes. For example, English Language and Literature, General has an average earning of $24,951, while Psychology, General averages around $36,163. Other scientific fields demonstrate a range of salaries: Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology graduates earn roughly $69,641, whereas Biology, General and Chemistry graduates see $29,066 and $37,662 respectively.
Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management (AEM)
The Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management (AEM) at Cornell University has a strong reputation for producing graduates who find rewarding, well-paying jobs. The Dyson salary and employment outcomes data are clear; year after year, our newly minted class of AEM graduates find rewarding, well-paying applied economics and management jobs around the country and abroad. Over two-thirds of the class of 2025 took business jobs in finance-related functions after graduation; salary data for this group is broken down further by sub-sector in the table below. Dyson offers a strong, collaborative experience for students, one that aligns well with SC Johnson’s company ethos.
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One student shared their experience: "Dyson has been the foundation for my growth, offering academic rigor and a collaborative environment where peers and mentors have continuously pushed me to excel. One defining experience was my Grand Challenges project with a large international hedge fund, where my team helped improve their CSR and giving programs-an opportunity that perfectly blended my interest in finance with creating a positive impact."
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