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.
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.
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 Economics
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 Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →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.