Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 40.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 77/100 · Strong Value
Brandeis University earns an ROI score of 77 out of 100, placing it in the Strong Value tier despite an eye-popping $68,080 sticker price. The story is one of aggressive financial aid: average net price drops to $35,736 and the all-in four-year total is $142,944, well below sticker. Graduates earn a median of $47,000 six years out, climbing to $77,231 at the ten-year mark, with a 6.7-year payback period that is genuinely fast for a private research university. Median federal debt is $25,648, producing a 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio that is well below the federal warning threshold. The completion rate of 86.0% and the repayment rate of 86.4% are both excellent, indicating Brandeis selects well-prepared students and supports them effectively. The Boston-area location near major employers in finance, biotech, and tech drives strong outcomes, particularly in CS, Economics, and Mathematics. This is a top-tier private university that earns its price tag for most attendees.
Brandeis University scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Brandeis University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $68,080/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $68,080/yr |
| Average net price | $35,736/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $142,944 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $77,231 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,648 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $272 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 86.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,618 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Brandeis University is $68,080/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $35,736/year, or roughly $142,944 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $13,363/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $54,885/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,648 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $272 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $77,231 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.55 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,363 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,135 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,536 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,784 |
| $110,001+ | $54,885 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $13,363 in net price, the lowest in the grid, with the $30,001-$48,000 band paying $15,135. These are among the most affordable figures in the country for any elite-tier institution and reflect Brandeis's substantial need-based aid. Over four years, low-income families face roughly $55,000 in total cost against $77,231 ten-year median earnings, an excellent ratio.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $20,536 and the $75,001-$110,000 band pays $26,784. Both figures remain well below sticker and produce defensible four-year totals of roughly $80,000-$110,000. Middle-income families see one of the better private-university values in the country at these brackets, particularly given the strong earnings outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $54,885, a sharp jump that reflects diminished need-based aid for affluent families. Even at this tier the figure stays below the $68,080 sticker, indicating some merit and discount dollars in play. Over four years, high-income families absorb around $220,000 in cost. For these families, Brandeis is a values and quality choice; the financial premium over a flagship public is real.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Brandeis University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $58,384 | C |
| Economics | $95,872 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $108,405 | C+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $67,838 | D |
| Public Policy Analysis | $75,580 | C |
| Computer Science | $123,460 | B+ |
| International Relations | $74,018 | C+ |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $68,179 | D |
| Area Studies | $54,306 | C |
| International/Globalization Studies | $66,366 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is Brandeis's standout program by ROI. 92 graduates per year earn a median of $80,431 in their first year out, climbing to $123,460 at four years. Median debt of $26,142 against those earnings produces a 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. The Boston tech corridor and proximity to Cambridge research labs drive top-tier outcomes. This is one of the cleanest financial wins in the entire database for any private university.
Biology
Biology is Brandeis's largest program at 170 graduates. First-year earnings of $37,475 climb to $58,384 at four years, with $25,484 median debt producing a 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Many biology grads route into medical school, dental school, or PhD programs, so four-year earnings understate the lifetime trajectory for the substantial graduate-school cohort. Strong fit for pre-health students.
Economics
Economics graduates 141 students earning $57,299 in year one and $95,872 at four years. Median debt of $25,295 yields a 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. The program feeds Boston finance, consulting, and policy roles effectively. Mid-career earnings near six figures are exceptional for a humanities-adjacent major and reflect Brandeis's strong placement network.
Business Administration and Management
Business graduates 111 students with $55,806 first-year and $108,405 four-year earnings. The $26,000 median debt produces a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. The grade is suppressed by relatively high debt relative to early earnings, but the four-year trajectory is excellent. Strong placement into Boston-area corporate roles drives the result.
Public Policy Analysis
Public Policy graduates 101 students with $39,943 first-year and $75,580 four-year earnings. Median debt of $25,000 produces a 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Brandeis's Heller School and broader policy orientation drives substantial graduate-school feeding into Washington and state government careers, where four-year earnings reflect the post-graduate-school bump.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 40.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 700-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 690-750 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 31-34 |
| Enrollment | 3,618 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,570 |
Brandeis admits 40.5% of applicants, marking it as genuinely selective. SAT mid-ranges of 700-770 in math and 690-750 in reading, plus an ACT mid-range of 31-34, indicate a student body in the top decile nationally. The 86.0% six-year completion rate flows directly from this selectivity. Well-prepared students see strong outcomes here; the school does not admit students it cannot support.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Brandeis sits among an interesting peer set. Amherst College, an elite LAC, posts similar or stronger ROI driven by its enormous endowment-funded aid. Dickinson, Gettysburg, and Providence are all selective Northeast private institutions with comparable but slightly weaker financial outcomes than Brandeis. American International College, an open-admission peer in the same Massachusetts market, scores far lower and helps contextualize Brandeis's strength. The takeaway: Brandeis competes well against the elite tier and outperforms its second-tier private peers.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandeis University (this school) | 77 | $35,736 | $77,231 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Providence College | 76 | $48,523 | $87,054 |
| Gettysburg College | 75 | $31,490 | $71,517 |
| Dickinson College | 73 | $37,607 | $70,204 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Brandeis enrolls 3,618 students with a 15.0% Pell rate, marking it as a relatively affluent but socioeconomically diverse private research university. The fit profile is academically strong students interested in STEM, economics, international affairs, or pre-health, who want a mid-sized research university with strong Jewish-tradition roots near Boston. The 86% completion rate and high repayment numbers indicate students who land here finish and pay back their loans. Particularly strong for prospective students targeting CS, Math, or Economics.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Brandeis University delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $35,736 per year ($142,944 over four years), graduates earn a median of $77,231 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 6.7 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: a 86.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,648 against $77,231 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.