Cornell College
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$202,536
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$4,299/yr
vs high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
47.1 years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
-58%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
Cornell College's annual tuition is $50,634. One year after graduation, alumni earn $34,521. Five years after graduation, earnings increase to $39,299, and after ten years, alumni earn $53,460. The median debt for Cornell College graduates is $27,000.
The college has a 67.6% graduation rate and a 74.2% retention rate. The acceptance rate is 80.7%, and 63.5% of students receive financial aid.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$50,634
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
Median Earnings (5yr)
$39,299
Graduation Rate
68%
Receive Financial Aid
64%
Avg Aid Amount
$0
Program-Level ROI
| Program | 4yr Cost | Median Earnings (5yr) | Est. 20yr ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | $202,536 | $42,577 | -25% |
| Psychology, General. | $202,536 | $44,063 | -11% |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | $202,536 | $0 | N/A |
Peer Comparison
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
Methodology
ROI calculations are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The earnings premium is calculated as the difference between median graduate earnings and the national average earnings for high school diploma holders ($35,000).
The 20-year ROI formula: ((Earnings Premium x 20) - Total Cost) / Total Cost x 100. Break-even point: Total Cost / Annual Earnings Premium. All figures use in-state tuition and do not account for inflation, opportunity cost, or financial aid variations.