Landmark College
Putney, Vermont · Private Nonprofit · 49.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 13/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Landmark College in Putney, Vermont occupies a unique niche in American higher education: it is designed specifically for students with learning differences, including dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and other learning disabilities. That specialized mission is central to interpreting the institution's ROI data, which on standard metrics looks poor. The overall score of 13 (Poor Value) reflects a $66,540 annual tuition, a net price of $56,954, and median earnings of $22,500 six years after enrollment - below the national average - with a payback period that cannot be calculated from the data. The four-year estimated cost of $227,816 is among the highest in the dataset. The completion rate of 43% is low, though for a population that has historically faced higher attrition in traditional higher education, it must be contextualized. Median debt of $17,500 is modest relative to the sticker price, suggesting significant institutional or family support. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.778 means graduates carry debt near 78% of annual income, which is stressful. For families weighing Landmark, the decision framework differs fundamentally from a typical ROI comparison: the question is whether the specialized support Landmark provides enables a student to complete a degree at all - an outcome that carries lifetime earnings value not captured at six years. The Scorecard numbers honestly reflect financial pressure, but do not capture the value of an accessible pathway for students who might otherwise not complete college.
The data raises concerns about Landmark College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score13/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Landmark College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $66,540/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $66,540/yr |
| Average net price | $56,954/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $227,816 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $29,813 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $22,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $186 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 455 |
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: $66,540/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 $56,954/year, or roughly $227,816 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 $44,712/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $63,102/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $17,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $186 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $29,813 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.78, 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 | $44,712 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $44,994 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $54,846 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $55,403 |
| $110,001+ | $63,102 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of approximately $44,712 per year - among the highest net prices in the dataset at this income band. The gap between cost and earnings is severe by conventional metrics, with six-year earnings of $22,500 far below cost. Pell Grant recipients represent only 16% of students, suggesting limited access for the lowest-income families despite the institutional mission.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families see net prices ranging from $44,994 to $55,403 annually. Against post-graduation earnings of $22,500 at six years, the standard financial case is extremely difficult to make. Families in this band who choose Landmark are typically doing so because mainstream alternatives have proven inaccessible. Borrowing should be minimized aggressively given the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.778.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
For higher-income families, Landmark's $63,102 annual net price is steep but potentially manageable without significant borrowing. The $29,813 median earnings at ten years remain well below the cost threshold, indicating that the investment case rests on non-financial value: degree attainment, confidence, and the foundational skills to pursue graduate education or careers that pay more in later years.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Landmark College’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 | 49.4% |
| Enrollment | 455 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,373 |
Landmark admits approximately 49% of applicants and does not publish standardized test score ranges, consistent with its mission of serving students whose academic potential is not captured by traditional metrics. The application process typically emphasizes documentation of the learning difference, a personal statement, and letters of support. Students who thrive here have already demonstrated persistence despite academic challenges.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Compared to peers like Champlain College and Bennington College, which serve broader student populations in Vermont, Landmark's cost structure is significantly higher and its financial outcomes weaker. However, a peer comparison on standard ROI metrics misrepresents Landmark's market: no other institution in the U.S. provides comparable specialized support at this scale. Families should compare Landmark against the realistic counterfactual - no degree, or an unsupported mainstream institution - rather than against conventionally competitive colleges.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landmark College (this school) | 13 | $56,954 | $29,813 |
| Champlain College | 49 | $35,860 | $58,386 |
| Bennington College | 26 | $30,947 | $38,289 |
| Mission University | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
| Southwestern Christian University | 14 | $20,146 | $40,391 |
| Voorhees University | 8 | $13,335 | $35,339 |
Who Thrives Here
Landmark College is the right fit for students with documented learning differences - particularly dyslexia, ADHD, and autism - who need intensive academic support unavailable at mainstream institutions. The 455-student campus creates an intimate environment with specialized faculty and advising. Families should understand the premium price reflects a specialized service model, not a traditional liberal arts education. Landmark is not appropriate for students seeking standard college ROI benchmarks; it is appropriate for students who need its specific support infrastructure to access higher education.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Landmark College are a real concern. With a net cost of $56,954 per year and the typical graduate earning only $29,813 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 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 43.0% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Median debt of $17,500 against $29,813 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.