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What can you do with a Computer Science degree from Cornell University?

First, some facts. Of the Computer Science graduates from Cornell University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 21 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 93%, Computer Science graduates from Cornell University have a substantially higher likelihood (+26%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 93%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 14% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Computer Science graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Computer Science graduate from Cornell University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Computer Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Software Development Engineer I
Amazon
Jul 2021 - Mar 2022
The role of Software Development Engineer I at Amazon directly utilizes the computer science knowledge and skills acquired during the Bachelor's degree, which are essential for software development tasks.

Software Development Engineer III- Backend Data Engineering
GoDaddy
Apr 2022 - Present
As a Software Development Engineer III- Backend Data Engineering at GoDaddy, the position requires advanced computer science knowledge and skills that are directly applicable and essential for backend data engineering tasks, fully utilizing the foundation provided by the degree.

ABOUT

Software engineer with a specialty in backend data engineering

What jobs can you get with a Computer Science degree from Cornell University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

When you look at the career paths of people who graduated with a Computer Science degree from Cornell University, it's pretty clear that most of them have landed jobs that are quite relevant to their studies. The majority of positions listed are either software engineering roles or involve some element of software development. For instance, roles like Software Engineer at tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Pure Storage heavily rely on the programming skills and technical knowledge that these graduates picked up in their courses. Even managerial positions within tech companies, like Software Engineering Manager or Staff Software Engineer, tie back to their computer science foundations, as they usually entail overseeing projects that involve software development.

However, not every job listed is a perfect fit. Some roles, like those in data science or certain internships, show a slight divergence from traditional software engineering, though they still draw on the analytical skills learned in a Computer Science program. A few graduates even ventured into areas that are less directly related to computer science, like trading or finance. Overall, though, the trends indicate that most Cornell CS graduates are using their degrees in ways that align with their education, making for fairly relevant career beginnings.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Computer Science graduates (this is across all Computer Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Cornell University):

What kind of career trajectories do Computer Science graduates from Cornell University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of Cornell Computer Science graduates, it really seems like they've found some solid footing in the tech industry right after graduation. For many, their first jobs often land them in roles like Software Engineer or Software Development Engineer at big-name companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. For example, graduates from 2012 and 2018 kicked off their careers at powerhouses in tech and continued to level up within those companies. There’s a pattern here: most graduates start in entry-level technical roles that allow them to build their skills and gain valuable experience.

As you fast forward five to ten years, it's clear that many of these alumni are progressing quite well. A lot of them move into senior positions, like Software Engineering Managers and Staff Software Engineers, often at the same firms they started with or at newer exciting companies in the tech space, such as Rivian and Meta. It’s impressive to see how quickly some move up, and even those who may have dabbled in other areas, like finance at Morgan Stanley or academic roles, still stay connected to tech, whether in data science or engineering positions. Overall, it sounds like a computer science degree from Cornell opens doors to successful tech careers, and most graduates seem to be doing quite well in roles that are relevant to their education. So, if you're considering a path in computer science, this data seems pretty encouraging!

How hard is a Computer Science degree from Cornell University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Cornell University is definitely on the challenging side, so be prepared for that! The program is rigorous and demands a strong grasp of both math and programming concepts, plus you'll need to stay on top of assignments and projects that can be pretty time-consuming. Students often find the workload to be intense, especially when juggling classes, labs, and group work. It’s not just about memorizing facts; you really have to develop problem-solving skills and think critically about how to tackle different tech challenges. So, while it’s a rewarding field with a lot of interesting stuff to learn, it’s safe to say you should expect to put in a solid effort to succeed!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Computer Science.

Do Computer Science graduates from Cornell University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Cornell CS grads, it definitely seems like they’re doing pretty well for themselves money-wise! Graduates who landed roles at big tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon typically enjoy hefty salaries that get even higher with experience and promotions. For instance, the 2013 grad worked their way up from Software Engineer to a Manager role at Rivian, which likely means a solid paycheck, especially given the rise in tech salaries. Even the more recent grads are starting out in strong positions with companies like Meta and Google, which typically pay pretty well. Sure, some of the early roles are internships, but they usually lead to great opportunities, too. Overall, it looks like these folks are on a pretty lucrative track!

What buzzwords do Computer Science graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Computer Science (this is across all Computer Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Cornell University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Computer Science?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Computer Science (ordered by the average relevance score of their Computer Science graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Stevens Institute of Technology 99 11
Eastern Michigan University 98 10
Colorado School of Mines 98 27
Michigan Technological University 98 12
Northern Arizona University 97 11
Northeastern University 97 21
UC Santa Barbara 96 10
University of Notre Dame 96 13
Carnegie Mellon University 96 14
University of Southern California 95 13
University of California San Diego 95 30
Eastern Washington University 95 13
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 95 24
Caltech 95 10
Northwestern University 94 14
Seattle University 94 12
Shanghai Jiao Tong University 94 10
Penn State University 93 30
University of Washington 93 61
Purdue University 93 50
University of California, Davis 93 21
University of California, Berkeley 93 41
The University of Georgia 93 10
University of Maryland 93 42
Cornell University 93 21
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 92 25
City University of New York-College of Staten Island 92 10
Grinnell College 92 10
Arizona State University 91 42
University of Wisconsin-Madison 91 44
San Jose State University 91 23
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 91 28
The University of Texas at Arlington 91 17
Virginia Tech 91 19
University of Utah 91 22
Drexel University 91 28
Wayne State University 91 11
Missouri University of Science and Technology 91 26
Brigham Young University 90 32
Colorado State University 90 32
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 90 23
Oklahoma State University 90 10
Stony Brook University 90 25
University of Massachusetts Lowell 90 20
Vanderbilt University 90 14
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 90 17
University of Michigan College of Engineering 90 16
Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management (GITAM) University, Visakhapatnam 90 26
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad 90 11
University of Michigan 89 39
University of Pittsburgh 89 22
University of Virginia 89 38
University of Iowa 89 15
Georgia Institute of Technology 89 84
University at Buffalo 89 20
Utah Valley University 89 17
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University 89 12
Manipal Institute of Technology 89 11
GITAM Deemed University 89 12
University of South Florida 88 24
James Madison University 88 16
The University of Texas at San Antonio 88 18
University of Delaware 88 12
Miami University 88 15
UC Irvine 88 52
University at Albany, SUNY 88 15
Brown University 88 11
The University of Texas at Austin 87 34
Michigan State University 87 22
Kent State University 87 11
Illinois State University 87 14
Clemson University 87 11
The University of Alabama 87 10
Washington State University 87 14
University of Maryland College Park 87 18
University of Illinois at Chicago 87 25
Rochester Institute of Technology 87 19
The University of Texas at El Paso 87 30
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani 87 17
University of California, Los Angeles 86 26
University of Missouri-Columbia 86 14
University of Connecticut 86 11
University of Massachusetts Amherst 86 27
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 86 12
University of Rochester 86 11
BV Raju Institute of Technology (BVRIT) 86 13
University of Florida 85 30
North Carolina State University 85 33
Grand Valley State University 85 11
Portland State University 85 22
University of Minnesota 85 38
Utah State University 85 16
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 85 10
New York Institute of Technology 85 10
University of Central Florida 84 43
The Ohio State University 84 18
Brigham Young University - Idaho 84 16
New York University 84 19
California State University, Northridge 84 12
Appalachian State University 84 18
Boston University 84 14
University of Oklahoma 84 11
The University of Texas at Dallas 84 75
Old Dominion University 84 10
Missouri State University 84 10
Rowan University 84 26
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 84 11
University of Maryland Baltimore County 84 20
Montana State University-Bozeman 84 12
Savitribai Phule Pune University 84 12
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham 84 11
Sathyabama University 84 11
Texas A&M University 83 35
Indiana University Bloomington 83 19
Auburn University 83 12
Oregon State University 83 41
University of Arkansas 83 15
Kansas State University 83 17
California State University San Marcos 83 16
University of Wyoming 83 10
Illinois Institute of Technology 83 17
KL University 83 39
PES University 83 25
CVR College of Engineering, Hyderabad 83 10
Gitam University, Hyderabad 83 14
University of Colorado Boulder 82 33
Tennessee Technological University 82 12
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 82 17
Wentworth Institute of Technology 82 10
University of Illinois Springfield 82 10
Louisiana State University 81 12
San Diego State University 81 17
George Mason University 81 32
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 81 11
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 81 23
Mississippi State University 81 13
Bowling Green State University 81 15
Weber State University 81 15
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University 81 82
University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences 81 18
Vellore Institute of Technology 81 35
Florida International University 80 32
Temple University 80 15
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 80 28
University of California, Santa Cruz 80 48
University of Mumbai 80 17
Visvesvaraya Technological University 80 32
University of Arizona 79 18
Texas State University 79 25
Northern Illinois University 79 10
California State University, Fresno 79 10
North Dakota State University 79 10
University of Hawaii at Manoa 79 14
California State University, Monterey Bay 79 15
Lovely Professional University 79 18
University of California, Riverside 78 21
University of Kentucky 78 13
Boise State University 78 14
SRM University 78 34
JNTUH College of Engineering Hyderabad 78 64
Georgia State University 77 30
Ball State University 77 10
Western Washington University 77 22
Rutgers University 77 20
University of Vermont 77 14
Washington University in St. Louis 77 14
New Jersey Institute of Technology 77 23
Princeton University 77 10
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada 77 23
Florida State University 76 18
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick 76 18
Anna University 76 18
University of North Texas 75 22
Rajiv Gandhi Prodyogiki Vishwavidyalaya 75 13
Texas Tech University 74 23
Kennesaw State University 74 20
California State University, Long Beach 74 14
Stanford University 74 13
Osmania University 74 28
University of Houston 73 31
California State University-Sacramento 73 37
University of California, San Diego 73 10
Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology 73 11
San Francisco State University 72 22
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 72 50
Oakland University 72 12
Columbia University in the City of New York 72 11
University of Washington Tacoma 72 14
East Carolina University 71 10
California State University, Fullerton 71 20
Queens College 71 19
University of California, Irvine 71 11
University of Maryland Global Campus 71 13
Andhra University 71 10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 70 31
Towson University 70 14
Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai 70 12
Western Governors University 68 28
Tufts University 68 11
Southern New Hampshire University 66 21
University of Nebraska at Omaha 66 10
University of Houston-Downtown 66 11
Florida Atlantic University 65 22
Troy University 65 10
University of Central Arkansas 63 10
University of Maryland University College 62 14
DeVry University 61 16
California State University-San Bernardino 60 11
University of Phoenix 57 14
Hunter College 47 11