Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont · Private Nonprofit · 10.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 86/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Middlebury scores 86 (Strong Value). The 6-year average earnings of $47,900 and 6.4-year payback period reflect a graduation profile that routes heavily through graduate school: Middlebury is known for graduate school placement in law, international affairs, and environmental policy, and those graduates appear in the Scorecard data at the early-career phase of their programs rather than mid-career employment. The 10-year earnings figure of $76,310 captures where more graduates actually land after professional training completes. Completion rate is 91.4% and median debt is $13,857 - manageable numbers. Economics is the largest and strongest earnings program (106 graduates, $85,879 at one year). Middlebury's specific advantages are its language programs and international studies focus - if the Scorecard tracked law school and policy placement rates, those numbers would add meaningful color to this profile.
Middlebury College scores in the top 8% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Middlebury College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,600/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,600/yr |
| Average net price | $31,483/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $125,932 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $76,310 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,857 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $147 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,738 |
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: $67,600/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $31,483/year, or roughly $125,932 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 $12,723/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $49,824/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $13,857, which works out to about $147 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($47,900) and comes to 0.29, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $12,723 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,229 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,510 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,526 |
| $110,001+ | $49,824 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average of $12,723 per year at Middlebury; those in the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually pay less, at $8,229. Over four years, a family in the lowest bracket faces roughly $50,000 in net costs, a significant amount.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $48,001-$75,000 range pay an average of $17,510 per year; those in the $75,001-$110,000 range pay $18,526. A middle-income family at $70,000 annual income would expect roughly $70,000 in total net cost over four years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay an average of $49,824 per year - close to $200,000 over four years. The investment thesis depends on the specific program: economics graduates paying the full net price can reasonably expect to recover costs within five years; humanities and environmental studies graduates on a graduate school path have a materially longer payback timeline. Middlebury's tuition is $67,600.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Middlebury College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $123,477 | A |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $53,518 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $128,471 | A |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $92,728 | - |
| International Relations | $77,444 | B+ |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $90,917 | B+ |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $44,142 | B+ |
| Biology | $34,891 | B |
| Area Studies | $56,508 | B+ |
| History | $40,195 | 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.
Economics
Economics is Middlebury's largest program with 106 graduates per year, $85,879 median earnings at one year, and $123,477 at four years. Median debt is $19,500 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.227 earns an ROI grade of A. The one-year earnings of $85,879 are the highest among the programs listed for Middlebury and reflect strong placement in finance, consulting, and economic analysis roles. The four-year figure of $123,477 is competitive with economics programs at larger research universities. Middlebury economics has a quantitative orientation and faculty research connections that allow engaged students to pursue rigorous work. For students committed to a finance or consulting career, this program delivers strong outcomes despite the school's liberal arts identity.
Computer Science
CS at Middlebury produces 57 graduates per year with $80,158 median earnings at one year and $128,471 at four years. Median debt is $13,500 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.168 earns an ROI grade of A. These are strong numbers relative to the school's average earnings profile and reflect the value of technical skills in any labor market.
International Relations and National Security Studies
International Relations and National Security Studies graduates 48 students per year with $68,344 median earnings at one year and $92,728 at four years. No debt-to-earnings ratio is available for this program (the data does not provide median debt for this cohort). The one-year earnings of $68,344 are high for an international affairs program at a liberal arts college - this cohort appears to be placing in government, defense, or policy research roles at competitive salaries immediately after graduation. The four-year trajectory to $92,728 is strong. Middlebury's location, language programs, and Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs provide institutional infrastructure for this track that is genuinely differentiated from other liberal arts colleges.
Natural Resources Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation graduates 58 students per year with $46,758 median earnings at one year and $53,518 at four years. Median debt is $13,000 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.278 earns a B+ grade. Middlebury's environmental programs are among its strongest institutional identities - the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey and the school's deep commitment to sustainability shape this program in ways the earnings data does not capture. One-year earnings of $46,758 are modest, reflecting placement in conservation, land management, and environmental nonprofit roles at entry level. The four-year figure of $53,518 is lower than technical or business tracks, consistent with public and nonprofit sector career paths. Students choosing this major for environmental mission rather than earnings optimization should weigh it accordingly.
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
Neuroscience graduates 48 students per year with $44,585 at one year and $90,917 at four years. Median debt is $11,900 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.267 earns a B+ grade. The low one-year earnings reflect heavy graduate school routing: Middlebury neuroscience is effectively a pre-professional pipeline to PhD programs, medical school, and research positions. The four-year figure of $90,917 is the largest year-1-to-year-4 jump in the Middlebury program dataset and captures graduates completing medical school, PhD programs, or residency - after which earnings rise sharply. This program should not be evaluated on its one-year earnings figure. The B+ grade reflects the data as-collected, not the actual long-term value for students pursuing medicine or academic research.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 87.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Middlebury College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 10.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 725-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 720-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 2,738 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,875 |
Middlebury admits 10.75% of applicants. SAT 725-790 Math and 720-760 Reading are the mid-ranges; ACT 33-35 is the realistic floor. Middlebury evaluates with attention to intellectual engagement, fit with the liberal arts mission, and extracurricular depth. International affairs and environmental studies applicants with demonstrated depth in those areas have strong positioning.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlebury College (this school) | 86 | $31,483 | $76,310 |
| Barnard College | 90 | $28,800 | $80,516 |
| Wesleyan University | 85 | $30,177 | $73,897 |
| College of the Holy Cross | 85 | $38,782 | $90,543 |
| Champlain College | 49 | $35,860 | $58,386 |
| Bennington College | 26 | $30,947 | $38,289 |
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster in the SAT 725-790 Math and 720-760 Reading range; ACT 33-35 composite. Middlebury admits 10.75% of applicants. Pell Grant participation is 15.9%. Middlebury draws students interested in international affairs, environmental studies, languages, and the liberal arts broadly; it is not a strong fit for students focused primarily on direct-to-career technical or business programs. The campus is rural Vermont, and students who prefer urban environments should factor that into their decision. Middlebury's language schools (held in summer) are world-recognized and shape the school's identity beyond the undergraduate program.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Middlebury College pays off. You'd pay about $31,483 a year after aid ($125,932 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $76,310 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 91.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $13,857 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $47,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Middlebury College: Common Questions
Is Middlebury College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Middlebury College pays off. It scores 86/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $31,483 a year after aid ($125,932 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $76,310 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.4 years to earn back.
How much does Middlebury College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $31,483 a year, or roughly $125,932 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Middlebury College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $76,310 ten years after enrolling, roughly $34,510 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Middlebury College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.4 years for Middlebury College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Middlebury College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $13,857, against average earnings of $47,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Middlebury College?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.