Civil Engineering bachelor's degree outcomes at Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · Federal field 1408
Data scope
Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.
$4,725 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
14.0% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$70,605 / year
10-year scenario
+57% · Positive payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$282,420
$20,000Annual price+$202,420
$29,000Current college-wide context+$166,420
$40,000Annual price+$122,420
$60,000Annual price+$42,420
$80,000Annual price−$37,580
$100,000Annual price−$117,580
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+25%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$80,261 → $100,258Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort32Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median38Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
72Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment26Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers33Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count30Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$91,242$56,434 above the preliminary benchmark
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$28,690
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$12,750
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$91,242
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$135/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$80,261Year 1
$91,242Year 4
$100,258Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
1.8% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$7,604
Estimated loan payment$135
38borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$91,242 vs. $86,517
$4,725 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$175,710 median wageNY estimate · 8,250 jobs · 11-9041+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$106,240 median wageNY estimate · 3,240 jobs · 25-1032+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeCivil Engineers$103,760 median wageNY estimate · 17,500 jobs · 17-2051+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 22.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineers, All Other$117,600 median wageNY estimate · 5,760 jobs · 17-2199+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 8.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEnvironmental Engineers$101,270 median wageNY estimate · 3,170 jobs · 17-2081+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePetroleum Engineers$144,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 18,060 jobs · 17-2171+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers$82,200 median wageNY estimate · 50 jobs · 17-2151+3.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
New York, NY
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
$17,224 higher earnings · $15,421 lower annual net price