Gallaudet University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Gallaudet University charges a net price of $15,845/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $63,380. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,101, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Gallaudet University does not clear its cost — it ranks #8 of 9 District of Columbia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,845/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $63,380 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,101 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,259/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$168,560 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Gallaudet University's own numbers. Net price $15,845 × 4 years = $63,380 total. Median earnings $43,101 fall $5,259 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $63,380 bill in about 6.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Gallaudet University students graduate with?
A median $18,000 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $43,101 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Gallaudet University students graduate?
47% finish their degree — 53% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $63,380 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $134,851 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Gallaudet University expensive compared with other District of Columbia colleges?
Its $15,845 net price runs $13,716 below the $29,561 median across the 9 District of Columbia colleges we profile, and $54,864 less across the full degree.