Vermont State University vs Middlebury College: which has better ROI?
Middlebury College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,932 in 4.5 years versus 37 years at Vermont State University, on median earnings of $76,310 vs $50,331 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Vermont State University | Middlebury College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,212 | $31,483 |
| Total net cost | $72,848 | $125,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,331 | $76,310 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $13,857 |
| Payback | 37 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$33,428 | $433,068 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Vermont State University or Middlebury College?
Vermont State University, at $18,212 a year after aid versus $31,483 — a gap of $13,271 a year, or $53,084 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Vermont State University or Middlebury College graduates earn more?
Middlebury College graduates report a median $76,310 ten years after entry, $25,979 more than the $50,331 at Vermont State University. 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, Vermont State University or Middlebury College?
Middlebury College: its completers carry a median $13,857 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Vermont State University, a difference of $1,143. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Middlebury College, against 47% at Vermont State University. 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.