At $19,040/yr net price, Vanderbilt University graduates earn $91,565/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $57,565/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $19,040 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $76,160 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $91,565/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$57,565/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 92.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $14,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,797/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,729/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,211/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,780/yr |
| $110,001+ | $42,754/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $130,517 | $78,044 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $127,087 | $90,787 |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies. | Master | $122,038 | |
| Public Health. | Master | $122,038 | $53,550 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $119,805 | $68,800 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Master | $117,572 | $76,096 |
| Law. | Doctoral | $114,324 | $139,857 |
| Marketing. | Master | $111,620 | $60,500 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Doctoral | $104,192 | $65,875 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $102,409 | $14,500 |
The Risk Factor
92.7% of students at Vanderbilt University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Vanderbilt gives you a strong financial return. You leave with a $14,000 median debt against $91,565 median earnings a decade out, and you're paying that off from a school where 96% of freshmen come back and nearly everyone graduates. Low debt plus high completion is the combination that makes ROI work, and Vanderbilt has both.
The payoff depends heavily on your major. Computer science graduates clear six figures, the highest on campus, and Nashville's tech and healthcare economy gives that degree a local market to land in. Chemical engineering, economics, and biomedical engineering all land in the low $70,000s with modest debt, so they pay off cleanly. Mathematics sits around $80,000 with the lightest debt load listed. These are all bachelor-level outcomes, so they reflect what you'd actually earn with an undergraduate degree.
The main risk here is the sticker price if your family earns over $110,000. You pay roughly $42,754 a year at that income, more than double the published net price, and that gap is where the math can turn against you if you pick a lower-earning major. The listed programs all pay well, but Vanderbilt offers plenty of majors not shown here, and full-price families in low-earning fields carry the most exposure.
If your family earns under $75,000, Vanderbilt is a rare bargain. Your net price runs between $4,700 and $6,200 a year, less than many public universities, and the earnings and graduation numbers stay the same regardless of what you pay. Families in the $75,000-$110,000 band pay around $14,780, still reasonable given the outcomes. If you're a full-pay family aiming at a lower-earning field, run the numbers against a cheaper school before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vanderbilt University worth the high tuition cost?
Vanderbilt offers strong financial aid that brings the average net price down to $19,040 annually, making it more affordable than many private universities. With median earnings of $91,565 ten years after graduation and low median debt of $14,000, the financial return typically justifies the investment for most students.
What are the best paying majors at Vanderbilt University?
Health and Medical Administrative Services leads with median earnings of $130,517, followed by Business Administration at $127,087 and Medical Clinical Sciences at $122,038. Even the lower-paying programs like nursing still produce graduates earning nearly $120,000 annually.
How much debt do Vanderbilt University graduates typically have?
Vanderbilt graduates have a median debt of just $14,000, which is significantly lower than the national average for private universities. This low debt burden, combined with strong earning potential, makes the degree financially manageable for most graduates.
Does Vanderbilt University have good job outcomes after graduation?
Vanderbilt has a 92.7% graduation rate and strong employment outcomes, with graduates earning a median of $91,565 ten years post-graduation. The combination of high graduation rates and solid earnings makes it a relatively safe investment compared to many other universities.