Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee · Private, nonprofit

All 49 assessed programs leave graduates out-earning a typical Tennessee high-school graduate (about $34,809/yr). Another 132 could not be assessed.

What would this cost you?

My family earns and I expect to take

Family income	Net price per year
Under $30k	$3,414
$30k to $48k	$1,876
$48k to $75k	$4,498
$75k to $110k	$12,153
$110k and up	$45,145
All families (average)	$15,846

Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). It reflects students who received federal aid.

Program earnings vs a high-school graduate

Earnings are measured four years after completion when available. Where four-year earnings are suppressed, one-year earnings are shown and marked 1-year earnings. One-year and four-year figures reflect different career stages and should not be compared as if measured at the same time.

49 of 181 programs could be assessed 27% have an earnings verdict

Programs by earnings versus a typical Tennessee high-school graduate.
Program	Degree	Median earnings	vs a high-school grad	Verdict	Median debt	Years to repay	Recent completers
Nursing	Master's Degree	$118,826	+$84,017	clears the bar	$90,637	1.1 yrs	385
Interdisciplinary Studies	Bachelor's Degree	$86,559	+$51,750	clears the bar	$12,000	0.2 yrs	279
Economics	Bachelor's Degree	$140,337	+$105,528	clears the bar	$12,000	0.1 yrs	251
Social Sciences	Bachelor's Degree	$103,229	+$68,420	clears the bar	$12,250	0.2 yrs	245
Computer Science	Bachelor's Degree	$160,021	+$125,212	clears the bar	$14,500	0.1 yrs	205
Law	First Professional Degree	$196,797	+$161,988	clears the bar	$139,857	0.9 yrs	178
Business Administration	Master's Degree	$190,365	+$155,556	clears the bar	$90,787	0.6 yrs	153
Mathematics	Bachelor's Degree	$141,171	+$106,362	clears the bar	$9,644	0.1 yrs	151
Applied Mathematics	Master's Degree	$216,406	+$181,597	clears the bar	$61,500	0.3 yrs	142
Management Science	Master's Degree	$135,520 1-year earnings	+$100,711	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	106
Political Science	Bachelor's Degree	$102,789	+$67,980	clears the bar	$14,000	0.2 yrs	104
Neuroscience	Bachelor's Degree	$59,575	+$24,766	clears the bar	$16,000	0.6 yrs	103
Psychology	Bachelor's Degree	$71,584	+$36,775	clears the bar	$11,187	0.3 yrs	100
Medicine	First Professional Degree	$90,286	+$55,477	clears the bar	$172,764	3.1 yrs	99
Public Health	Master's Degree	$166,705	+$131,896	clears the bar	$53,550	0.4 yrs	64
English	Bachelor's Degree	$60,439	+$25,630	clears the bar	$15,050	0.6 yrs	63
Nursing	First Professional Degree	$133,154	+$98,345	clears the bar	$68,800	0.7 yrs	62
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Bachelor's Degree	$114,368	+$79,559	clears the bar	$12,000	0.2 yrs	59
Educational Administration	Master's Degree	$74,569	+$39,760	clears the bar	$35,410	0.9 yrs	55
School Counseling	Master's Degree	$55,941	+$21,132	clears the bar	$77,250	3.7 yrs	55
Mechanical Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$101,345	+$66,536	clears the bar	$14,000	0.2 yrs	52
Biomedical Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$116,662	+$81,853	clears the bar	$15,000	0.2 yrs	50
Theology and Ministry	Master's Degree	$58,149	+$23,340	clears the bar	$43,343	1.9 yrs	50
Accounting	Master's Degree	$128,337	+$93,528	clears the bar	$60,000	0.6 yrs	49
History	Bachelor's Degree	$69,820	+$35,011	clears the bar	$16,514	0.5 yrs	49
Special Education	Master's Degree	$65,048	+$30,239	clears the bar	$27,500	0.9 yrs	46
Human Resources	Master's Degree	$138,852	+$104,043	clears the bar	$41,872	0.4 yrs	46
Cognitive Science	Bachelor's Degree	$38,752 1-year earnings	+$3,943	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	45
Music	Bachelor's Degree	$59,217	+$24,408	clears the bar	$21,500	0.9 yrs	44
Public Policy Analysis	Bachelor's Degree	$91,265	+$56,456	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	42
Teacher Education (by level)	Master's Degree	$57,106	+$22,297	clears the bar	$37,924	1.7 yrs	38
Sociology	Bachelor's Degree	$83,649	+$48,840	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	38
Engineering Science	Bachelor's Degree	$81,126 1-year earnings	+$46,317	clears the bar	$15,000	0.3 yrs	37
Teacher Education (by level)	Bachelor's Degree	$55,188	+$20,379	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	35
Marketing	Master's Degree	$140,404	+$105,595	clears the bar	$60,500	0.6 yrs	35
Healthcare Administration	Master's Degree	$178,361	+$143,552	clears the bar	$78,044	0.5 yrs	30
Chemical Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$121,641	+$86,832	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	26
Educational Administration	Doctoral Degree	$122,742	+$87,933	clears the bar	$65,875	0.7 yrs	19
Neuroscience	Doctoral Degree	$87,403	+$52,594	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	19
Curriculum and Instruction	Master's Degree	$63,959	+$29,150	clears the bar	$33,255	1.1 yrs	18
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	Master's Degree	$77,951	+$43,142	clears the bar	$100,276	2.3 yrs	18
Community Organization and Advocacy	Master's Degree	$48,154 1-year earnings	+$13,345	clears the bar	$41,000	3.1 yrs	17
Public Policy Analysis	Master's Degree	$96,305	+$61,496	clears the bar	$40,464	0.7 yrs	16
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies	Master's Degree	$199,064	+$164,255	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	16
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Doctoral Degree	$58,034 1-year earnings	+$23,225	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	15
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	Doctoral Degree	$97,544	+$62,735	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	14
Civil Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	$82,744	+$47,935	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Special Education	Doctoral Degree	$98,012	+$63,203	clears the bar	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Finance	Master's Degree	$198,584	+$163,775	clears the bar	$76,096	0.5 yrs	6
Business Administration	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	136
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	$16,500	insufficient data	68
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	55
Human Development and Family Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	37
Computer Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	36
Engineering, General	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	35
Nursing	Graduate/Professional Certificate	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	35
Computational Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	29
Research Psychology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	29
Communications and Media	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	28
Chemistry	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	28
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	25
Science, Technology and Society	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	25
Interdisciplinary Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	24
Fine Arts	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	23
Human Development and Family Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	21
Non-Professional Legal Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	21
Philosophy	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	21
Chemistry	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	21
Anthropology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	19
Education	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	18
Biomedical Engineering	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	18
Biology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	18
Area Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	17
Teacher Education (by subject)	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	17
Electrical Engineering	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	16
Biology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	14
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	14
Political Science	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	14
Computer Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Electrical Engineering	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	13
Special Education	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Electrical Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Classical and Ancient Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Physics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	12
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Mechanical Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Geology and Earth Science	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Psychology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Psychology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Economics	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Film and Photography	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	11
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Civil Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Mathematics	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	10
Teacher Education (by subject)	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Biology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	9
Chemical Engineering	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Mechanical Engineering	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Pharmacology and Toxicology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Religion/Religious Studies	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Astronomy and Astrophysics	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Counseling Psychology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Nursing	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
History	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	8
Biomedical Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Liberal Arts and General Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Materials Sciences	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Economics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Sociology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Medical Illustration and Informatics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	7
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Genetics	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Political Science	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Mental Health and Counseling Services	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
History	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	6
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Computer Science	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Physics	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Research Psychology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Anthropology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Theatre	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	5
Area Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Communications and Media	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Teacher Education (by level)	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Civil Engineering	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
English	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Mathematics	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Philosophy	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	4
Chemical Engineering	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
English	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Interdisciplinary Studies	Doctoral Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Religion/Religious Studies	Bachelor's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Religion/Religious Studies	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Chemistry	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Anthropology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Sociology	Master's Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3
Public Health	First Professional Degree	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	insufficient data	3

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release 2026-06-10. Earnings are medians measured four years after completion where available (programs shown with a 1-year figure are marked), compared with the state high-school-graduate benchmark ($34,809/yr). Debt is federal loans only. Suppressed values are shown as insufficient data, never imputed. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise.