Cornell University vs Columbia University in the City of New York: which has better ROI?
Columbia University in the City of New York has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,360 in 1.6 years versus 2.1 years at Cornell University, on median earnings of $102,491 vs $104,043 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cornell University | Columbia University in the City of New York |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,690 | $21,590 |
| Total net cost | $114,760 | $86,360 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $104,043 | $102,491 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 1.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $998,900 | $996,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cornell University or Columbia University in the City of New York?
Columbia University in the City of New York, at $21,590 a year after aid versus $28,690 — a gap of $7,100 a year, or $28,400 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cornell University or Columbia University in the City of New York graduates earn more?
Cornell University graduates report a median $104,043 ten years after entry, $1,552 more than the $102,491 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Cornell University or Columbia University in the City of New York?
Cornell University: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Columbia University in the City of New York, a difference of $7,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Columbia University in the City of New York, against 95% at Cornell University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.