College ROI

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Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN 7,208 Undergrads 93.4% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$89,590
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,846
After Aid
Median Earnings
$101,204
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$15,846
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$101,204
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$91,565
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate93.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age19.6
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
5.9%
SAT Avg
1,549
SAT Reading
25th: 73074575th: 770
SAT Math
25th: 77078075th: 800
ACT Composite
25th: 343575th: 35

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$852k
+$385k
+$368k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$795k
+$328k
+$311k
Full Cost$90k/yr
+$530k
+$63k
+$45k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
25
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
28
545%
Full Cost$90k/yr
52
14%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return117%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-31%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (2yr)
$16,663
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$372k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$116,662
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$428k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$121,641
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$466k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$82,744
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$170k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,477
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
BachCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,496
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$65,907
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$14,500
Earnings (4yr)
$160,021
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$754k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$140,337
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$606k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$109,116
Natl Median: $93,782
Lifetime Value Added
+$355k
Median Debt
$15,050
Earnings (4yr)
$60,439
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$323k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,742
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$16,514
Earnings (4yr)
$69,820
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$9,644
Earnings (4yr)
$141,171
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$613k
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$101,345
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,559
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,217
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
$16,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,575
Natl Median: $62,451
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$107,157
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
+$340k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (4yr)
$102,789
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$11,187
Earnings (4yr)
$71,584
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,265
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Natl Median: $55,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$327k
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (4yr)
$114,368
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$411k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (4yr)
$103,229
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$326k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,649
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$55,188
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$60,000
Earnings (4yr)
$128,337
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$458k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (4yr)
$216,406
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$1213k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$90,787
Earnings (4yr)
$190,365
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$993k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$100,276
Earnings (4yr)
$77,951
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,184
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,255
Earnings (4yr)
$63,959
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$35,410
Earnings (4yr)
$74,569
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$76,096
Earnings (4yr)
$198,584
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$1064k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$78,044
Earnings (4yr)
$178,361
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$890k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,678
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Median Debt
$41,872
Earnings (4yr)
$138,852
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$549k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $69,445
Lifetime Value Added
-$244k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$60,500
Earnings (4yr)
$140,404
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$562k
Materials Sciences
MastCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $116,810
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$199,064
Natl Median: $198,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$1068k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,750
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$53,550
Earnings (4yr)
$166,705
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$789k
Median Debt
$40,464
Earnings (4yr)
$96,305
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Median Debt
$90,637
Earnings (4yr)
$118,826
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$375k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,048
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$77,250
Earnings (4yr)
$55,941
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Median Debt
$37,924
Earnings (4yr)
$57,106
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$43,343
Earnings (4yr)
$58,149
Natl Median: $61,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
DocCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,983
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $153,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
-$349k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,343
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
DocCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $178,476
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
DocCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $135,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$65,875
Earnings (4yr)
$122,742
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$206k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,112
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,725
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Materials Sciences
DocCIP: 4010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,084
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,341
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,403
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,544
Natl Median: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,038
Natl Median: $67,164
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,012
Natl Median: $90,739
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,822
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Natl Median: $85,242
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$139,857
Earnings (4yr)
$196,797
Natl Median: $107,773
Lifetime Value Added
+$749k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$172,764
Earnings (4yr)
$90,286
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Public Health
ProfCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,541
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$68,800
Earnings (4yr)
$133,154
Natl Median: $133,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.