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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #48 of 351

Economicsat Cornell University

Graduates earn $84,967/yr in their first year — about 57.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,053K; scenarios range from $849K to $1,117K depending on AI disruption.

Ithaca, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
75
Optimistic
69
Pessimistic
Earnings
$84,967
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,053K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Cornell University

Your Cornell Economics degree opens doors far beyond Ithaca. The program's rigorous analytical training and quantitative emphasis are highly sought after, explaining why graduates consistently command top positions. You’ll find yourself competing for and securing roles in demanding fields like investment banking, management consulting, and tech, often in major financial and innovation hubs. This is driven by Cornell's strong national reputation, its robust alumni network, and dedicated career services that cultivate deep recruiting pipelines with leading employers. While AI risk might seem high for some analytical roles, your robust foundation will prepare you to manage, leverage, and innovate with these technologies, rather than be replaced by them. To maximize your prospects, actively engage with the university's career resources and pursue internships that align with your desired industry from early on.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$849K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,053K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple4.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,117K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple4.2x
Earnings Trajectory

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.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How Cornell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at Cornell University

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 Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at Cornell University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Cornell University?

This program scores 74/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Economics careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $848,769 in decade earnings vs $1,116,845 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Cornell University's Economics program stand out?

Ranked #48 of 351 programs nationally, Cornell University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Is Cornell University a hidden gem for Economics?

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.