Cornell University vs University of Pennsylvania: which has better ROI?
University of Pennsylvania has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,796 in 1.8 years versus 2.1 years at Cornell University, on median earnings of $111,371 vs $104,043 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cornell University | University of Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,690 | $28,699 |
| Total net cost | $114,760 | $114,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $104,043 | $111,371 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $15,715 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 1.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $998,900 | $1,145,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cornell University or University of Pennsylvania?
Cornell University, at $28,690 a year after aid versus $28,699 — a gap of $9 a year, or $36 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 University of Pennsylvania graduates earn more?
University of Pennsylvania graduates report a median $111,371 ten years after entry, $7,328 more than the $104,043 at Cornell University. 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 University of Pennsylvania?
Cornell University: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $15,715 at University of Pennsylvania, a difference of $1,715. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
97% of students finish at University of Pennsylvania, 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.