Mathematics: Cornell University vs Duke University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Duke University
Durham, NC
5.4x
$264,056 tuition
3.9x
$263,220 tuition
$1,429,712 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$1,036,164 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

Cornell University Duke University
Earnings Multiple 5.4x 3.9x
4-Year Tuition $264,056 $263,220
Year 1 Earnings $87,251 $121,088
10-Year Earnings $1,430K $1,036K
Median Debt $13,500 $9,500
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 1.9 months 0.9 months
DegreeWorth Score 56/100 55/100
Acceptance Rate 8.2% 6.8%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (65% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Mathematics graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Mathematics graduates.

Cornell University Duke University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $264,056 $263,220
10-Year Projected Earnings $1,430K $1,036K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 5.4x 3.9x
5-Year Salary Growth +87% +9%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Mathematics (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Cornell University Duke University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,555K $1,430K $1,050K $1,109K $1,036K $805K
Earnings Multiple 5.9x 5.4x 4.0x 4.2x 3.9x 3.1x
DegreeWorth Score 59 56 48 58 55 47

For the full AI analysis of Mathematics career paths, see the Cornell University or Duke University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Mathematics graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap
$836
Duke University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$33,837/yr
Duke University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
5.4x / 3.9x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Mathematics graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Natural sciences managers $161,180 8,500 +3.7% 50%
Mathematicians $121,680 100 -0.7% 100%
Data scientists $112,590 23,400 +33.5% 64%
Statisticians $103,300 2,000 +8.5% 66%
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79,350 4,400 +2.3% 54%
Mathematical science occupations, all other $71,490 300 +4.0% 87%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 66,200 -1.6% 33%
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Explore Each Program

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Mathematics: Cornell University or Duke University?
Cornell University scores 56/100 while Duke University scores 55/100. Duke University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its competitive ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Mathematics?
Cornell University has an in-state earnings multiple of 5.4x vs Duke University's 3.9x. That means Cornell University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Cornell University and Duke University compare on Mathematics earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $87,251 at Cornell University vs $121,088 at Duke University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $1,429,712 vs $1,036,164 — a difference of $393,548.
How much does Mathematics cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $264,056 at Cornell University and $263,220 at Duke University. Median debt at graduation is $13,500 vs $9,500. Both programs lead to the same Mathematics career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.