Vanderbilt University vs Rhodes College: which has better ROI?
Vanderbilt University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,384 in 1.5 years versus 6.3 years at Rhodes College, on median earnings of $91,565 vs $66,651 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Vanderbilt University | Rhodes College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,846 | $28,585 |
| Total net cost | $63,384 | $114,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $91,565 | $66,651 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $21,761 |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $800,716 | $251,480 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Vanderbilt University or Rhodes College?
Vanderbilt University, at $15,846 a year after aid versus $28,585 — a gap of $12,739 a year, or $50,956 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Vanderbilt University or Rhodes College graduates earn more?
Vanderbilt University graduates report a median $91,565 ten years after entry, $24,914 more than the $66,651 at Rhodes College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Vanderbilt University or Rhodes College?
Vanderbilt University: its completers carry a median $14,000 in federal loans versus $21,761 at Rhodes College, a difference of $7,761. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Vanderbilt University, against 85% at Rhodes College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.