Civil Engineering at Cornell University

Cornell's civil engineering program combines Ivy League prestige with unusually manageable debt—just $12,750 at graduation, roughly half the state median and well below the national average. That low debt burden paired with strong first-year earnings of $80,261 creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in under two months of work.

The earnings picture tells an interesting story. At $80,261, Cornell graduates earn more than those from every other New York program except Manhattan University, placing Cornell in the 60th percentile statewide. Nationally, it ranks in the 95th percentile—suggesting New York's civil engineering market is particularly competitive. Four-year earnings grow to $95,056, a healthy 18% increase that shows graduates aren't just starting strong but continuing to advance.

For a family facing Cornell's selective 8% admission rate and demanding academic environment, this represents a solid return. The combination of top-tier starting salaries, minimal debt, and steady earnings growth makes this one of the stronger engineering investments in New York. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests reliable data without statistical noise, and the outcomes confirm that Cornell's engineering reputation translates to real-world value for civil engineering majors.