Vermont State University
Randolph, Vermont · Public · 81.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 55/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Vermont State University scores 55 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. Formed through the 2023 consolidation of Vermont State Colleges, VTSU enrolls 3,590 undergraduates across multiple Vermont campuses. The 47.2% completion rate is the primary drag - fewer than half of students who enroll complete a degree. Despite this, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.352 is unusually low (score 91), reflecting Vermont's $15,000 median debt against $42,600 average 6-year earnings. The 85.1% repayment rate suggests completers manage debt well. At $11,952 in-state tuition and $18,212 net price, VTSU is affordable, but the payback period of 13.9 years stems from the combination of moderate earnings and the earnings drag from non-completers in the Scorecard metric. Registered Nursing (90 graduates, $75,160 year-one, C+ grade) leads outcomes but carries $35,125 median debt - high for this institution. Teacher Education (30 graduates, $42,290 year-one), Kinesiology (50 graduates, $37,493 year-one), and Business (65 graduates, $37,469 year-one) form the core program mix with limited ROI grade data available.
Vermont State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,952/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,296/yr |
| Average net price | $18,212/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,848 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,331 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,590 |
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: $11,952/year ($22,296/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,212/year, or roughly $72,848 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 $14,645/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,007/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,000, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,600) and comes to 0.35, 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 | $14,645 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,998 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,279 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,668 |
| $110,001+ | $24,007 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $14,645 per year - $58,580 over four years. The median debt of $15,000 suggests strong grant coverage for lower-income students. Nursing completers earning $75,160 year-one recover the total four-year investment in roughly nine months. For non-nursing programs earning $37,000-$42,000 year-one, payback from $58,580 extends to two-plus years. The 47.2% completion rate is the primary risk - non-completion at any investment level is financially damaging.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,279 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $20,668 per year. The institution-wide 13.9-year payback obscures the reality that completers in nursing and technical programs have much shorter payback periods.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $24,007 per year - $96,028 over four years. For nursing and technology programs with B and B+ outcomes, VTSU can be a defensible choice. For programs without ROI grade data or with modest earnings trajectories, higher-income families should consider whether a $96,000 investment in a 47.2%-completion institution is appropriate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Vermont State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $77,267 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $51,438 | - |
| Psychology | $50,782 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $51,701 | - |
| Teacher Education | $42,859 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $42,671 | - |
| Biology | $39,471 | - |
| Accounting | $61,162 | - |
| Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | $40,273 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,465 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (90 graduates) earns $75,160 at year one and $77,267 at year four with $35,125 median debt and a 0.467 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+). Vermont's rural healthcare market limits nursing wages below major metro benchmarks. Nursing completers are financially stable, but debt management requires planning.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (30 graduates) earns $42,290 at year one and $42,859 at year four. No debt or ROI data is available. Vermont teacher salaries are modest; students entering education at VTSU's price point face a manageable but slow payback trajectory.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (65 graduates) earns $37,469 at year one and $51,438 at year four with no debt data reported. Vermont's small business economy limits the high-compensation employment pathways that business programs at larger universities can access.
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
Electromechanical Technologies (5 graduates) earns $66,749 at year one and $84,601 at year four with $25,500 median debt and a 0.382 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B). This program - a legacy Vermont Technical College offering - has strong outcomes for a technology credential at a public university. The small graduate volume limits statistical weight, but the outcome profile reflects the program's technical specificity and employer demand for skilled technicians.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Vermont State 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 | 81.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,590 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,714 |
VTSU admits 81.7% of applicants with no standardized test mid-range data reported. Admission is effectively open for most qualified applicants. The enrollment decision should focus on program availability across campuses, completion support resources, and how the $18,212 average net price compares to the specific financial aid award received. Students should inquire about campus-specific completion rates, as the institutional 47.2% may mask variation across the multi-campus system.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont State University (this school) | 55 | $18,212 | $50,331 |
| University of Vermont | 78 | $19,343 | $62,472 |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College | 56 | $5,718 | $46,498 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | 55 | $21,067 | $56,469 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
Who Thrives Here
VTSU is Vermont's public university system, formed from several legacy institutions including Vermont Technical College, Castleton University, and Northern Vermont University. The multi-campus model means students experience different campus cultures depending on location. The 81.7% admission rate and no test score data reflect a broadly accessible institution. The 34.1% Pell rate is moderate. Students seeking Vermont-based nursing, technology, or education programs in a low-cost environment will find VTSU an accessible option. The completion crisis - 47.2% finish - is the central concern prospective students must address before enrolling.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Vermont State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $18,212 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $50,331 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 47.2% graduation rate, a long payback period.
Median debt of $15,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, 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.
Vermont State University: Common Questions
Is Vermont State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Vermont State University scores 55/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,212 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $50,331 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Vermont State 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 $18,212 a year, or roughly $72,848 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 Vermont State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $50,331 ten years after enrolling, roughly $8,531 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 Vermont State 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 13.9 years for Vermont State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Vermont State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,000, against average earnings of $42,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. 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 Vermont State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 47.2%. 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.