Head-to-head comparison
Cornell University vs St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island: which has better ROI?
Option A Ithaca, NY
Cornell University
- Net price / year
- $28,690
- Earnings, 10 years
- $104,043
- Payback
- 2.1 yrs
Option B Staten Island, NY
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island
- Net price / year
- $35,666
- Earnings, 10 years
- $86,693
- Payback
- 1.9 yrs
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $71,332 in 1.9 years versus 2.1 years at Cornell University, on median earnings of $86,693 vs $104,043 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cornell University | St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,690 | $35,666 |
| Total net cost | $114,760 | $71,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $104,043 | $86,693 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $25,729 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $998,900 | $695,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cornell University or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
Cornell University, at $28,690 a year after aid versus $35,666 — a gap of $6,976 a year, or $43,428 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Cornell University or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island graduates earn more?
Cornell University graduates report a median $104,043 ten years after entry, $17,350 more than the $86,693 at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Cornell University or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
Cornell University: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $25,729 at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island, a difference of $11,729. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
95% of students finish at Cornell University, against 46% at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island. 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.