Middlebury College
Middlebury College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Middlebury College at a Glance
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, United States. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalists, Middlebury was the first operating college or university in Vermont.
1800
226 years old
$1.7B
$1.73 billion (2025)
1,500
2,600 undergrad
377
350 acres
44
Identity
How to Apply to Middlebury College
Official admissions pageNovember 2 (Early Decision I)
$75
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is Middlebury College Worth It?
Middlebury College offers moderate value at $31,483/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $76,310, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 92% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 11% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Median student debt of $13,857 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
How Middlebury College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #16 of 25 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bowdoin College | 100 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| #2 | Colby College | 100 | $17,180 | $80,490 |
| #3 | Williams College | 100 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| #4 | Davidson College | 100 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| #5 | Pomona College | 94 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
| #6 | Washington and Lee University | 94 | $23,781 | $94,810 |
| #16 | Middlebury College | 56 | $31,483 | $76,310 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Middlebury College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Middlebury College
The highest-earning program at Middlebury College is Economics at $75,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Psychology, General at $36,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Middlebury College earns $75,400, while a Psychology, General graduate earns $36,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $19,082 in median debt vs. $12,316 for Psychology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $31,483/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $75,400 | $75,400 | $19,082 |
| Area Studies | $39,700 | $39,700 | $11,063 |
| Psychology, General | $36,700 | $36,700 | $12,316 |
Similar Colleges in VT
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Middlebury, VT
- Student Body
- 2,738 students
- Admission Rate
- 11%
- Graduation Rate
- 92%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $31,483
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $76,310
- Median Student Debt
- $13,857