Cornell University Placements: Job Opportunities and Salaries

Ithaca, New YorkLocation

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7.7/10

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Veda Burman

Study Abroad Content Specialist | Updated 3+ months ago

Cornell University offers placement opportunities to its 100% graduate students. The average salary of Cornell University graduates is 94,000 USD (77.83 lakhs INR) per annum. Some top employers recruiting Cornell University graduates are, Apple, Amazon, Barclays, Duolingo, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Oracle, Spotify, and Pixar Animation Studios.

Around 94% of Cornell University MBA graduates have secured jobs within 3 months after graduation. MBA graduates of CU Johnson College of Business get an average starting salary of 162,808 USD (1.34 crore INR) per year. About 93% of the students reportedly accepted the job offers. 93% of the Engineering Management students of Cornell University have obtained a career within 3 months of graduation.

Table of Contents

Cornell University Placement by Subject
Cornell University Placement by Industry
Cornell University MBA Placement
Top Cornell University Salaries by Job Roles
Cornell University Work While Studying
Cornell University Internship
FAQs

Cornell University Placements By Degree

The best paying degree at Cornell University is PhD with alumni getting an average salary of 157,000 USD (1.30 crore INR). Graduates with Masters in Finance at the university received an average salary of 140,000 USD (1.15 crore INR) per annum. The SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University is one of the leading Business Schools across the world, providing the best placements to graduates within 3-6 months of their graduation. Some popular subjects and the corresponding average salaries of the Cornell University graduates are given below:

Degree	Average Salary (USD)	Average Salary (INR)
Doctorate	157,000	1.30 crore
Masters in Finance	140,000	1.15 crore
MBA	136,000	1.12 crore
Executive MBA	130,000	1.07 crore
Masters in Science	115,000	95.25 lakhs
LLM	113,000	93.59 lakhs

Cornell University Placements by Industry

The highest paying industry at Cornell University is in Financial Services with a salary range between 117,000 to 150,000 USD (96 lakhs to 1.24 crore INR). Some high paying industries along with their average base salary are given below:

Cornell University Graduate Salary by Industry

Industry	Annual Average Salary (USD)	Average Salary (INR)
Financial Services	129,000	1.06 crore
Consulting, Accounting & Professional Services	117,000	96.91 lakhs
Data	131,000	1.08 crore
Healthcare and Alternative Medicine	150,000	1.24 crore
Executive Management and Change	122,000	1.01 crore

Cornell University Placements by Profession

Some top job professions of the Cornell University graduates along with their average salaries are as follows:

Job Profile	Average Salary (USD)	Average Salary (INR)
Software Engineer	103,800	85.95 lakhs
Data Analyst	79,780	66.06 lakhs
Project Manager	100,755	83.43 lakhs
Senior Software Engineer	146,229	1.21 crore
Veterinarian	111,960	92.71 lakhs
Executive Director	121,920	1 crore

Cornell University MBA Placements

About 94% of the employment seeking Cornell University MBA students secured employment within 3 months of graduation. Cornell University MBA graduates are majorly employed across Financial Services. Consulting and Technology are the two other most enrolling industries employing graduates of Cornell University MBA. The details of Cornell MBA employment according to industries are as follows:

Industry	Percentage Employed	Average Base Salary (USD)	Median Base Salary (USD)
Financial Services	39%	161,563	150,000
Consulting	30%	167,648	155,000
Technology	15%	137,274	130,000
Consumer Products	5%	119,682	110,000
Manufacturing	3%	131,125	125,000
Law/Legal Services	1%	211,667	215,000

The 2-year MBA graduates of Cornell University secured an average signing bonus of 37,684 USD. Top employers of Cornell University MBA graduates include, Amazon, American Express, Bank of America, Citi, Deloitte, Altman Solon, TCS, EY, PwC, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, McKinsey & Company and several others. The MBA placement report by function are as follows:

Cornell University Work While Studying

To be eligible for work on campus in the university while studying candidates are restricted by some laws which are discussed below:

F1 students do not need to get any special authorization to work on campus. They can work at any job on campus.
J1 students are required to obtain a J-1 student on-campus employment authorization letter from the Global Learning office before starting their work. This authorization letter is valid for only 12 months.

Although Cornell does not place students in jobs. Students are required to conduct their own job search at the university to identify opportunities that best fit their interests, skills, and class schedules. Here is a list of top on-campus job options for international students at the university.

Job Roles	Salary/ Hour (in USD)	Salary/ Hour in INR
Teaching Assistant	11.85	902
Barista	11.59	882
Library Assistant	13.24	1,008
Receptionist	13.31	1,013
Sales Assistant	20.00	1,523
Tutor	21.31	1,622
Research Study Assistant	15.48	1,178

Cornell University Internship

Almost all the students of the university have received their summer employment. Around 41% of the summer internship offers were the direct result of CFEM drops and through the connections of faculty or staff.

Candidates looking for an internship or a full-time opportunity can go through the following job search resources.

Handshake: This may allow students to find a full-time or internship posting targeted for the Cornell students as well as on-campus interview opportunities for them.
GoinGlobal: It is a great place for students looking for international internships or job opportunities. This also gives you statistics about the job listings, specific employment/career guides, etc.
Student Employment: All students of Cornell will find on-campus internships or part-time opportunities at the site. This is maintained by the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment.

Majority of the Cornell graduates choose to pursue post-graduate programs. Cornell University provides personalized career support and advising to each student. University officials work with each student before their arrival to understand their career goals and how to develop a wonderful resume, cover letter, and career application plans. An annual career trek is also organized in New York City so that the students meet and engage with alumni of top companies like McKinsey, Facebook, Lyft, Goldman Sachs, and Ernst and Young.

FAQs

Ques. Which graduates at Cornell University are the highest-paid?

Ans. Cornell University is among the top-ranked public schools across the world. The SC Johnson College of Business produces the highest-paid business graduates of the university. MBA graduates of Cornell University earn an average salary of 155,048 USD (1.27 crore INR) per annum.

Ques. How hard is it to secure placement as a Cornell graduate?

Ans. Around 100% willing Cornell University graduates secured employment within 3 months of graduation.

Ques. What are the mean and median base salaries of Cornell MBA graduates?

Ans. The median base salary of a Cornell MBA graduate is 155,048 USD (1.27 crore INR) per year. The university has experienced 11% increase in the average base salary of the MBA graduates as compared to 2021.

Ques. Who are the top recruiters of Cornell University graduates?

Ans. Some of the top recruiters for Cornell University graduates are McKinsey, Microsoft, American Express, Facebook, Google, Boston Ernst and Young, Apple, and Amazon.

Ques. Which is the highest paying degree at Cornell University?

Ans. MBA is the highest paying degree at Cornell University with salaries ranging up to 175,000 USD (1.43 crore INR).

Ques. What are the highest paying jobs for Cornell University graduates?

Ans. The highest paying job is Consulting with an average salary of 155,000 USD.

Ques. What are the placement opportunities for Cornell University graduates?

Ans. Cornell University assists its students to get a job or internship in various top MNCs like Google, E&Y, Apple, Amazon, Citi, JP Morgan, TCS, Deloitte, and Bank of America. The university organizes a number of career fairs for students to interact with alumni of top companies, and building networks.

Cornell University Placements: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 11 Reviews

Cornell University graduates typically secure full-time employment or graduate school admission within 6 months of graduation, with placement rates around 85-90%. The average salary range for graduates spans from $60,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on the field and location. STEM majors usually earn between $80,000 and $110,000, while business/economics graduates earn $70,000 to $100,000.

High-demand sectors like tech, finance, and consulting offer salaries exceeding $150,000. Students commonly find jobs through career fairs, networking, and platforms like Handshake. Prestigious companies such as Meta, JP Morgan, Amazon, McKinsey, and Bloomberg actively recruit from Cornell. Part-time roles, including TA, RA, and DA positions, are available, with pay ranging from $2,700 to $3,500 per month.

Students can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic term and more during breaks.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

Reviews

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Engineering (5)

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Physics (1)

Once in a lifetime experience : Cornell University !

Likes

Short duration of the MEng program, high cost and location in a collegetown

Placement

85% of students find a job within 6 months of program completion.
Avarrage salary ranges between 60k - 120k.
Proven methods are cold applications and networking.

Found my accommodation via a local property manager found on Google. Monthly rent is $900.

academic: 6/10

faculty: 6/10

infrastructure: 6/10

accomodation: 6/10

placement: 4/10

extracurricular: 6/10

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Saanvi Jain

Cornell University( Enrolled 2023 )BS Computer ScienceJune 6, 2025

7.7 /10

My Bachelors from Cornell University Experience

Likes

I really liked the culture of my college (the cultural activities and people)
The job opportunities that have been provided
Love the career services where they help me with reviewing my resume

Dislikes

Some professors would overload us with work so it gets really stressful
I don't like the fact that its very far away from NYC so I miss out on some networking events
There could be more stress relieving activities due to the amount of stress because of finals and prelims

Placement

Over 90% of students in most programs secure jobs or graduate school admission within 6 months of graduation. The average starting salary for STEM majors is around $80,000–$110,000, while business/economics graduates typically earn between $70,000 and $100,000. Computer science and engineering majors often receive offers in the $100K+ range, especially with top tech firms.
Usually students find jobs through On-campus recruitment in the Cornell Career Services, summer internships that convert into full-time offers, alumni networking via LinkedIn, and online platforms like Handshake or workday.
Major companies include Meta, JP Morgan, Amazon, McKinsey, and Bloomberg.

For the first 2 years I opted for on-campus housing as it was compulsory. For a semester, I have to pay about $7000. I didn't face any challenges, as the process was randomized to assign rooms and I got a single room in a decent hostel for both years so I didn't face any challenges in searching for housing. The accommodation is within the college campus and about 15 minutes walking distance from classes. Most indian students also stay on campus.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 6/10

extracurricular: 8/10

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Siddhant Sandeep Dhende

Cornell University( Enrolled 2024 )TOEFL Score : 102Chemical EngineeringMay 6, 2025

8.3 /10

From My Mother's Dream to Ivy Reality: A Journey Blessed by My Parents

Likes

Ivy League status with global recognition and prestige.
World-class faculty, many with PhDs from top institutions like MIT.
Cutting-edge research facilities and access to high-tech labs.

Dislikes

Missing city vibes sometime as I had been from Mumbai city when in India
Feels lonely as many of students go home on break
Sudden unpredictable weather in Ithaca

Placement

Full-Time Job Opportunities After Course Completion Placement Rate (within 6 months): Around 85–90% of the graduating batch secures full-time job offers within 6 months of completing their program, especially in STEM and business-related fields.
Average Salary Range: Most students receive salaries in the range of $80,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on the field, prior experience, and role.
Job Search Process: Students typically find jobs through: Career fairs and networking events organized by Cornell Handshake (Cornell’s internal job portal) LinkedIn and company websites Referrals from professors, alumni, or peers On-campus recruitment for select roles in consulting, tech, and finance
Highest and Lowest Salaries: Highest Offers: Can go up to $150,000+ annually, especially in tech, finance, and consulting sectors. Lowest Offers: Start around $60,000–$70,000 annually, usually in research, academia, or small startups.

Finding Accommodation—My Experience Search Methods: I primarily used online platforms such as Facebook groups (like “Cornell Housing” or “Cornell University – Indian Students”) Ithaca Craigslist and Zillow Cornell Off-Campus Housing portal WhatsApp groups of incoming students and alumni.
Challenges Faced: High demand and limited supply near campus, especially during peak intake months Scams and fake listings, especially on open forums Unfurnished apartments and difficulty in arranging furniture as a new international student Finding roommates with matching lifestyle and budgets
Recommendations: Start looking at least 2–3 months in advance to get good options Verify listings through video calls or ask current students to visit if possible Prefer staying in grad student housing or areas like Collegetown, Maplewood, or near Commons for convenience. If budget allows, consider fully furnished shared apartments to reduce setup hassle

I ended up choosing Cornell mainly due to two Professors here (Jie Shan and Peter McMahon). Their research interests aligned really well with mine. Another, although minor, factor that affected my decision was the availability of many hiking trails in Ithaca. I really enjoy trekking and hiking, so that was a major plus.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 9/10

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Shane

Cornell University( Current Student )Applied EconomicsMarch 11, 2019

8.2 /10

A great college with care for students

A great network to be able to be successful in the future, allows me to extensively train for the career I want. Has a good social climate to be able to enjoy myself when I need a break from the tough work.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 5/10

extracurricular: 8/10

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David

Cornell University( Current Student )Industrial and Labor RelationsMarch 5, 2019

8.5 /10

I enjoy friends, classes and the experience of education.

Placement

Very good and excellent. People expect to do very well when they graduate. Graduates are among the highest paid and people do very well. I know many young graduates and they are enjoying how Cornell prepared them.

It's the leading program in this field and I couldn't find it anywhere else. Very detailed and good instruction at Cornell's ILR School in Ithaca, NY about 4 hours from New York City. There are plenty of resources.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 9/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 6/10

extracurricular: 9/10

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