Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit · 5.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 97/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Vanderbilt University scores 97 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. The 93.5% completion rate, 3.6-year payback period, and $61,900 average 6-year earnings combine with an 89.2% earnings premium to justify a $67,498 sticker tuition for most students who gain admission. Median debt of $14,000 is low against that sticker price, reflecting an aid program that actively holds down student borrowing. Families earning $0-$30,000 pay just $3,414 per year. Computer Science leads the earnings profile: 198 graduates, $122,244 year-one, $160,021 at year four. Mathematics graduates (157) earn $103,812 year-one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.096. Economics (286 graduates) posts $84,311 year-one and $140,337 at year four. The 10-year median is $91,565. Vanderbilt's Nashville location provides a growing tech and healthcare employment base as a complement to the traditional finance, consulting, and medicine pipelines.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.6 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Vanderbilt University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,498/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,498/yr |
| Average net price | $15,846/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $63,384 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $91,565 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $61,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $148 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 93.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,208 |
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: $67,498/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,846/year, or roughly $63,384 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 $3,414/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $45,145/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,000, which works out to about $148 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($61,900) and comes to 0.23, 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 | $3,414 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $1,876 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $4,498 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,153 |
| $110,001+ | $45,145 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 bracket pay $3,414 per year at Vanderbilt. The $30,001-$48,000 band pays just $1,876 - the lowest net price in the income schedule. A 93.5% completion rate means the aid investment is very likely to produce a degree. This is a genuinely exceptional value for low-income students who gain admission.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $4,498 per year. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $12,153 - still substantially below cost for families with six-figure incomes. Vanderbilt's need-based aid reaches well into middle-income territory. The step from $4,498 to $12,153 is notable, but both figures are low relative to $67,498 sticker tuition. Middle-income families should treat net price as their baseline, not sticker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $45,145 per year at Vanderbilt - roughly $180,000 over four years at full demonstrated need. At a 3.6-year payback and $61,900 average 6-year earnings, the financial case for full-pay students in high-earning fields is strong. For students entering lower-earning fields (Music at $59,217 four-year; Neuroscience at $25,830 year-one), the payback extends considerably. The Vanderbilt credential retains value across fields in ways earnings data does not fully capture.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Vanderbilt University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences, General | $103,229 | A |
| Economics | $140,337 | A |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $86,559 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $160,021 | A |
| Mathematics | $141,171 | A |
| International Relations | $102,789 | B+ |
| Psychology | $71,584 | B+ |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $59,575 | C |
| Biomedical Engineering | $116,662 | B+ |
| Music | $59,217 | B |
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 Vanderbilt's highest-earning program by year-one salary: 198 graduates, $122,244 year-one, $160,021 at year four, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.119) with median debt of $14,500. The year-four figure of $160k reflects tech and quant finance career progression from a Vanderbilt CS platform. Debt of $14,500 against $122k year-one earnings means most CS graduates clear their debt in under two months of gross pay.
Mathematics
Mathematics earns 157 graduates, $103,812 year-one, $141,171 at year four, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.096) - the lowest debt-to-earnings ratio in the program set. Median debt of $10,000 against $103k year-one is exceptional. The year-one figure reflects strong placement into analyst roles and software engineering for quantitative undergraduates.
Economics
Economics at Vanderbilt enrolls 286 graduates and posts $84,311 year-one, $140,337 at year four, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.147). Median debt of $12,424 is low. Economics graduates flow into investment banking, management consulting, and policy. The year-four figure of $140k reflects the strong Wall Street and McKinsey placement rates Vanderbilt's Economics program produces.
Social Sciences, General
Social Sciences General (302 graduates) earns $61,389 year-one, $103,229 at year four, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.179) with median debt of $11,000. The year-four trajectory to $103k for a general social sciences designation reflects Vanderbilt's career service infrastructure and alumni network lifting graduates into high-earning professional roles across the interdisciplinary degree paths. This is notably strong for a non-specific social sciences classification.
International Relations
International Relations (130 graduates) earns $46,843 year-one, $102,789 at year four, B+-grade (debt-to-earnings 0.256) with median debt of $12,000. The year-four jump from $47k to $103k may reflect graduate school entry and professional school placement. Vanderbilt IR graduates pursue law, policy, and business tracks that produce strong long-run outcomes despite modest year-one figures.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Vanderbilt 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 | 5.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 34-35 |
| Enrollment | 7,208 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $16,361 |
Vanderbilt's admission rate is 5.86%. SAT 770-800 Math and 730-770 Reading and ACT 34-35 describe the middle range. Vanderbilt's financial aid policy meets full demonstrated need for all admitted students. Families below $110,000 will find net prices ranging from $1,876 to $12,153 per year. The combination of selectivity and aid generosity means cost should not deter low-income applicants who are academically competitive.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University (this school) | 97 | $15,846 | $91,565 |
| University of Chicago | 98 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| Yale University | 97 | $23,777 | $100,533 |
| Brown University | 96 | $25,184 | $93,487 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
Who Thrives Here
Vanderbilt admits 5.86% of applicants, placing it in the most selective tier of American universities. SAT mid-ranges are 770-800 Math and 730-770 Reading; ACT composite 34-35. At 7,208 undergraduates, it is a mid-size private research university. Pell rate of 20.2% reflects genuine economic diversity given the aid model. The School of Engineering, Peabody College of Education, and Blair School of Music add unique program depth.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Vanderbilt University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $63,384 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $91,565 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 3.6 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 93.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $14,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $61,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Vanderbilt University: Common Questions
Is Vanderbilt University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Vanderbilt University pays off. It scores 97/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $15,846 a year after aid ($63,384 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $91,565 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 3.6 years to earn back.
How much does Vanderbilt 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 $15,846 a year, or roughly $63,384 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 Vanderbilt University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $91,565 ten years after enrolling, roughly $49,765 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 Vanderbilt 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 3.6 years for Vanderbilt University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Vanderbilt University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,000, against average earnings of $61,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23. 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 Vanderbilt University?
The six-year graduation rate is 93.5%, 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.