Norwich University
Northfield, Vermont · Private Nonprofit · 74.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 71/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Norwich University, a private nonprofit (and the nation's oldest private military college) in Northfield, VT, scores 71 on the ROI index in Fair Value tier. Sticker tuition is $49,740 with a net price of $22,257, reflecting heavy aid discounting. Average earnings at six years are $42,400, and median earnings at 10 years are $65,575. Payback period is 7.5 years, debt-to-earnings is 0.59 against $25,000 median debt, completion rate is 60.2%, and three-year repayment rate is 88.9%. Earnings premium is 34.3%. Enrollment is 2,428 with a 24% Pell rate. Norwich's military-college identity drives a distinctive program mix: information science (B+ grade, $98K first-year), national-security studies, criminal justice, mechanical engineering, and intelligence operations all show strong outcomes. Career placement into defense, intelligence, and federal service is a real differentiator that the data captures clearly.
Norwich University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $49,740/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $49,740/yr |
| Average net price | $22,257/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,028 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,575 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,428 |
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: $49,740/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,257/year, or roughly $89,028 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 $15,610/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,854/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,400) and comes to 0.59, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $15,610 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,164 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,332 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,046 |
| $110,001+ | $27,854 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Households at $0-$30,000 pay $15,610 net - a striking discount from the $49K sticker - and $30,001-$48,000 pays $16,164. These are excellent prices for a private nonprofit, and against $42,400 six-year earnings the math clears comfortably. Norwich's aid is genuinely generous for low-income families.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$48,001-$75,000 pays $17,332, $75,001-$110,000 pays $22,046 - clean progressive curve. Middle-income families see real value, particularly given the strong 10-year earnings trajectory and federal-service placement opportunities.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $27,854 - the top bracket. Total 4-year cost about $111,000 against $65,575 ten-year earnings produces a 1.7x ratio that is workable. For high-income military-bound families, Norwich is genuinely competitive with the federal service academies on cost-per-outcome.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Norwich University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $70,075 | C |
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $85,184 | A |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $90,628 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,203 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $86,054 | B |
| Information Science | $98,551 | B+ |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $68,004 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $82,477 | B |
| Construction Management | $76,175 | C |
| Psychology | $53,775 | 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.
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations
Intelligence Operations has 111 graduates - the largest program - with $73,947 first-year earnings, $85,184 at four years, $8,333 median debt, 0.113 debt-to-earnings, and an A ROI grade. The exceptionally low debt ($8K, well below the school median) reflects substantial ROTC scholarships. Career paths run through DoD, the intelligence community, and federal contractors. This is the flagship Norwich pathway.
Information Science
Information Science has 40 graduates, $98,551 first-year earnings, no four-year earnings reported, $24,625 median debt, 0.25 debt-to-earnings, and a B+ ROI grade. The first-year earnings of $98K are exceptional, reflecting cybersecurity and defense-IT placement. Career paths are concentrated in federal service and contractor roles. A second flagship program at Norwich.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing has 41 graduates, $74,283 first-year earnings, $86,054 at four years, $27,000 median debt, 0.363 debt-to-earnings, and a B ROI grade. Solid B-grade outcome.
Computer/Information Technology Administration
Computer/IT Administration has 54 graduates, $60,988 first-year earnings, $90,628 at four years, $26,399 median debt, 0.433 debt-to-earnings, and a B ROI grade. Strong four-year earnings growth (49%). Career paths include defense IT, network security, and federal contracting. A reliable B-grade program.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice has 117 graduates - a large cohort reflecting Norwich's federal-service pipeline - with $43,523 first-year earnings, $70,075 at four years, $26,000 median debt, 0.597 debt-to-earnings, and a C ROI grade. Strong four-year growth (61%) reflects placement into federal law enforcement and intelligence-adjacent roles - a Norwich differentiator over typical criminal-justice programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Norwich University’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 | 74.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| Enrollment | 2,428 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,275 |
Admission rate is 74.4%, with SAT mid-range 520-670 math, 540-650 reading, and ACT scores not reported. These describe well-prepared students with significant academic spread - the wide SAT band reflects the mix of ROTC-track and civilian-track applicants. The completion rate is 60.2%; military-track persistence is generally high, while civilian-track persistence varies. Selectivity is meaningful but accommodates students across a broad preparation range.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich University (this school) | 71 | $22,257 | $65,575 |
| University of Mary | 76 | $17,770 | $60,909 |
| Holy Family University | 73 | $13,143 | $62,235 |
| California Lutheran University | 71 | $30,109 | $68,712 |
| Champlain College | 49 | $35,860 | $58,386 |
| Bennington College | 26 | $30,947 | $38,289 |
Who Thrives Here
Fits students pursuing military, intelligence, or federal-service careers, particularly those entering the Corps of Cadets program or ROTC-track placements. Enrollment of 2,428 is small-mid; 24% Pell rate is moderate. Outcomes are exceptionally strong for the intelligence operations program (A grade, $74K first-year), information science, and engineering paths. The school's value proposition is the unique military-academic blend and the federal-employment placement pipeline; for civilian-track students the price-to-outcome math also clears thanks to the heavy aid discounting.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Norwich University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,257 a year after aid ($89,028 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $65,575 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Norwich University: Common Questions
Is Norwich University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Norwich University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 71/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,257 a year after aid ($89,028 over four years) against $65,575 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Norwich University 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 $22,257 a year, or roughly $89,028 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 Norwich University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $65,575 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,775 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 Norwich University?
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 7.5 years for Norwich University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Norwich University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $42,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Norwich University?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.