Gallaudet University
Washington, District of Columbia · Private Nonprofit · 58.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 27/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Gallaudet University earns an overall ROI score of 27/100, placing it in the poor value band on CampusROI's framework. Tuition runs $19,654 with an average net price of $15,845 after aid. Median earnings six years after entry land at $25,400, climbing to roughly $43,101 by year ten, producing a payback period of about 25.1 years. Median federal debt of $18,000 works out to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71, which is tight. Completion is the headline weakness at 47.3% of degree-seeking students finishing within 150% of normal time. The component scores break down as earnings premium 23/100, completion 33/100, payback 20/100, debt-to-earnings 27/100, repayment 45/100. The lowest sub-score is payback period at 20/100, which is the main weight pulling the overall number down; the strongest sub-score is loan repayment rate at 45/100. Data points here come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (2024-2025 vintage), and Scorecard earnings carry a 6-10 year reporting lag, so the figures describe recent graduating cohorts rather than this year's incoming class.
The data raises concerns about Gallaudet University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score27/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period25.1 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Gallaudet University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $19,654/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,654/yr |
| Average net price | $15,845/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $63,380 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,101 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $25,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $191 |
| Estimated payback period | 25.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 812 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $19,654/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,845/year, or roughly $63,380 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $14,129/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,318/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $18,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $191 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $43,101 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.71, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $14,129 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,238 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,236 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,830 |
| $110,001+ | $18,318 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average net price of $14,129 per year here. With expected earnings around $43,101 a decade out, that's a tight number - Pell, state grants, and any institutional aid are doing real work to make it accessible, but families should still model debt carefully across four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) face a net price of about $14,236 per year. These households typically get less Pell support and partial institutional aid, so the tuition bill is more directly felt. Whether the math works depends on the major: programs with stronger early earnings can absorb this cost; lower-paying majors will produce a longer payback period. Note: the income-bracket data shows inversions where the 30-48k bracket pays more than the 48-75k bracket and the 75-110k bracket pays more than the 110k+ bracket - that's unusual and likely reflects small-sample noise or aid policy quirks; treat the brackets as approximate.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families in the $110,000+ bracket pay an average of $18,318 per year. At this price point the calculation is whether the school's earnings outcomes and completion rate justify paying near sticker - high-income families could likely access more selective options or in-state flagships at similar or lower out-of-pocket cost, so the value case has to be made on fit, program, or geography.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Gallaudet University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $31,541 | D |
| Psychology | $20,185 | C |
| American Sign Language | $70,859 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $25,747 | D |
| Social Work | $31,903 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $38,090 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $29,003 | D |
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.
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (CIP 0502) graduates 30 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $31,541. Median program debt is $28,125 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89, which is heavy. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of D.
Psychology
Psychology (CIP 4201) graduates 21 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $20,185. Median program debt is $14,097 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C. Psychology bachelor's-level outcomes are weak unless paired with graduate study; the debt-to-earnings ratio here reflects that reality.
American Sign Language
American Sign Language (CIP 1616) graduates 18 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $37,235 and four-year earnings of $70,859. Median program debt is $30,500 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82, which is heavy. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of D.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies (CIP 0901) graduates 16 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $25,747. Median program debt is $25,000 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.97, which is heavy. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of D. Communications outcomes are hugely dispersed; the median understates the tail risk for graduates who don't land a structured first job.
Social Work
Social Work (CIP 4407) graduates 13 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $31,903. Median program debt is $23,017 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of D.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 61.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 58.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Gallaudet University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 58.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 400-520 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 380-502 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 14-17 |
| Enrollment | 812 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,939 |
The school admits roughly 58.1% of applicants, putting it in the moderately selective category (SAT Math 25th-75th of 400-520; SAT Reading 25th-75th of 380-502; ACT Composite 25th-75th of 14-17). For prepared students with solid high school records the admit decision is unlikely to be the binding constraint here. Selectivity correlates loosely with completion in Scorecard data, and at 47.3% this campus's completion rate is in line with peer institutions.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Listed peer institutions include American University (ROI 74, Fair Value, 7.3yr payback); The Catholic University of America (ROI 77, Strong Value, 6.8yr payback); Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary (ROI 25, Poor Value, >999yr); University of the Ozarks (ROI 30, Poor Value, 22.3yr payback); Mary Baldwin University (ROI 25, Poor Value, 20.3yr payback). Gallaudet University sits at ROI 27 with 25.1yr payback, so families weighing options should compare these schools side by side on tuition net of aid, completion rate, and program-level earnings rather than relying on rankings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallaudet University (this school) | 27 | $15,845 | $43,101 |
| The Catholic University of America | 77 | $29,561 | $73,250 |
| American University | 74 | $41,943 | $77,370 |
| University of the Ozarks | 30 | $17,360 | $44,384 |
| Mary Baldwin University | 25 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
Who Thrives Here
This is a Mid-Atlantic institution with a small enrollment of 812 undergraduates and a Pell Grant rate of 57.9%, well above the national average of about 32%, indicating it serves a high share of low-income students. Strong fit profile is a focused, locally-rooted student who has a clear major in mind and needs the in-state pricing and small-campus scale to make the math work. Be honest about completion: at this rate, a meaningful share of students who enroll do not finish, and incomplete degrees produce the worst ROI of any path. Median earnings ten years out of $43,101 should be the honest yardstick for whether the price the family will actually pay (see the income-bracket breakdown below) leads to a workable post-graduation budget.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Gallaudet University are a real concern. With a net cost of $15,845 per year and the typical graduate earning only $43,101 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 25.1 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 47.3% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, a long payback period.
Median debt of $18,000 against $43,101 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.