Cornell University Public Policy Analysis: earnings, debt & careers

Public Policy Analysis graduates of Cornell University earn a median $126,767 four years after graduating ($77,906 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $15,750. That is $57,111 above the U.S. median for Public Policy Analysis graduates ($69,656 across 34 colleges), and ranks 1st of 1 New York colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$126,767

U.S. median for this major: $69,656.

College Scorecard field of study; 49 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
$77,906

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$15,750

About 12% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,170.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$28,690 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $88,140. College Scorecard.

Cornell University Public Policy Analysis: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Cornell University graduates$126,767

Fewer than 3 New York colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.

U.S. median (34 colleges)$69,656 (+$57,111)

Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.

Public Policy Analysis nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →

Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income

Uses Cornell University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$1,776$7,282under 1 year
$30–48k$4,070$16,687under 1 year
$48–75k$6,796$27,864under 1 year
$75–110k$14,311$58,675under 1 year
$110k+$49,992$204,9672.2 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (87% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Public Policy Analysis graduates 4 years after graduating ($126,767) minus $34,633 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $92,134 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method

College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.

Careers for Public Policy Analysis graduates

Medical and Health Services Managers

Ithaca area$128,050
New York$164,120
U.S.$123,860

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +24.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Social Science Research Assistants

New York$61,210
U.S.$61,990

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.

What families pay at Cornell University, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About Cornell University

Cornell University Public Policy Analysis questions

How much do Cornell University Public Policy Analysis graduates earn?

Public Policy Analysis graduates of Cornell University earn a median $126,767 four years after graduating and $77,906 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Policy Analysis graduates across 34 colleges is $69,656.

How much debt do Cornell University Public Policy Analysis graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Public Policy Analysis graduates of Cornell University is $15,750, about 12% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,170.

Where does Cornell University rank for Public Policy Analysis in New York?

Of 1 New York colleges reporting Public Policy Analysis graduate earnings, Cornell University ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Public Policy Analysis graduates get?

A common career is medical and health services managers, with a median wage of $128,050 in the Ithaca, NY area and $123,860 nationally. Others include social science research assistants.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
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Cite this: “Cornell University Public Policy Analysis: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/cornell-university/majors/public-policy-analysis (College Scorecard and BLS data).