Chemistry bachelor's degree outcomes at Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · Federal field 4005
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 notably above the same-degree benchmark.
$14,191 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Debt pressure
19.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$40,778 / year
10-year scenario
+16% · 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+$163,110
$12,000Annual price+$115,110
$24,000Annual price+$67,110
$29,000Current college-wide context+$47,110
$36,000Annual price+$19,110
$48,000Annual price−$28,890
$60,000Annual price−$76,890
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+113%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$28,372 → $60,338Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort23Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median34Borrowers 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.
54Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment25Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers28Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count15Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$79,311$44,503 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$15,121
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$79,311
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$160/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.
$28,372Year 1
$79,311Year 4
$60,338Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
2.4% 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$6,609
Estimated loan payment$160
34borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$79,311 vs. $65,120
$14,191 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.
Natural Sciences Managers$134,680 median wageNY estimate · 5,690 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$99,880 median wageNY estimate · 1,840 jobs · 25-1052+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeChemists$90,600 median wageNY estimate · 4,230 jobs · 19-2031+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 5.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemical Technicians$60,900 median wageNY estimate · 2,200 jobs · 19-4031+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 7.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeForensic Science Technicians$81,670 median wageNY estimate · 1,140 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Research Scientists$181,990 median wageNY estimate · 1,950 jobs · 15-1221+21.8% projected U.S. growth · 2.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$130,460 median wageNY estimate · 23,970 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Occupations, All Other$116,990 median wageNY estimate · 11,460 jobs · 15-1299+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 27k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$103,100 median wageNY estimate · 1,080 jobs · 25-1054+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEnvironmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$102,640 median wageNY estimate · 610 jobs · 25-1053+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$97,070 median wageNY estimate · 70,660 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,160 median wageNY estimate · 3,700 jobs · 19-2041+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.3k 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.