Information Sciencesat Cornell University
Graduates earn $103,650/yr in their first year — about 66.0% above the national Information Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,236K; scenarios range from $888K to $1,302K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cornell University
The elite reputation of Cornell's CS program creates a powerful recruiting gravity, pulling top-tier employers from across the country to Ithaca. You won't be limited by the local job market; instead, companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, along with elite Wall Street trading firms, actively compete for graduates. The program's rigorous, theory-heavy curriculum is precisely what these firms seek, as it produces engineers who can solve novel problems, not just apply existing tools. While the data shows high AI risk for the field, Cornell graduates are the ones building and managing those AI systems, placing them firmly in control of the disruption. To maximize this advantage, your key action is to engage with on-campus recruiting events from your very first year—it’s not just a job fair, it's your primary career launchpad.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cornell University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Information Sciences
How Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cornell University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cornell University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Information Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Information Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Information Sciences at Cornell University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Information Sciences at Cornell University?
This program scores 79/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Information Sciences nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Information Sciences careers?
With 69% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $887,986 in decade earnings vs $1,301,530 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Cornell University a hidden gem for Information Sciences?
After financial aid, the average student pays $129,348 over four years — 51% below the $264,056 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.