Hampden-Sydney College
- Graduation Rate
- 64% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $67,640 A
- Top 9% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $22,400 D+
- 31% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 41% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $19.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,627,193.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 66% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Hampden-Sydney College Matters
Hampden-Sydney College is a private liberal arts college in Hampden-Sydney, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 946
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, English & Literature
Why students choose Hampden-Sydney College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 41% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1030–1250. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,400 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $67,640 ten years after enrolling — 66% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.76 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just 946 students, Hampden-Sydney College offers an intimate academic environment that suits those who thrive in smaller settings. The college emphasizes a liberal arts education, with popular areas of study including Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Biology, Psychology, and Computer Science. This focus allows students to explore a diverse range of subjects while honing critical thinking and communication skills.
Looking at what happens after graduation, graduates earn a median salary of $67,640 within a decade of completing their degree. This figure is a solid indicator of the return on investment for students who choose to study here. While 23% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting some financial need, the college remains committed to helping students succeed and move up in their careers.
In terms of cost, the net price after aid is around $22,400, with a median debt load of $26,000. This financial picture suggests that while some students may face challenges, many find ways to manage their expenses effectively. Those who typically thrive at Hampden-Sydney are often motivated, engaged individuals who appreciate a close-knit community and a strong academic foundation to launch their careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Hampden-Sydney College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hampden-Sydney College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, Hampden-Sydney College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,207. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1207
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 1030–1250
- ACT Range
- 23–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 90%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,550
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.37
- Applicants
- 3,262
- Admitted
- 1,298
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hampden-Sydney College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hampden-Sydney College is $54,550, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,400. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,422 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $54,550
- Out-of-State
- $54,550
- Avg Net Price
- $22,400
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 47%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,422
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,458
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,547
- Family Income $110K+
- $32,133
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Hampden-Sydney College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Hampden-Sydney College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hampden-Sydney College earn a median of $67,640, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $55,846
- 8 Years
- $63,236
- 10 Years
- $67,640
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.38x
- Earning > $25K
- 72%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (200)
- 62%
- 100% (200)
- 62%
- 100% (200)
- 62%
- 100% (200)
- 62%
How Hampden-Sydney Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Hampden-Sydney College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hampden-Sydney College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,400/year ($89,600 total). Graduates earn $67,640 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,716,793 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,627,193 (19.2× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $89,600
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,716,793
- Net Return
- $1,627,193
- ROI Multiple
- 19.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $22,400
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 64%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,783,144
- Investment Income
- $-16,696,110
Top Programs
The fields Hampden-Sydney College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 34% $56,154 early-career
- Social Sciences 26% $46,521 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $40,053 early-career
- English & Literature 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Psychology 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hampden-Sydney College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hampden-Sydney College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, Hampden-Sydney College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,207. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hampden-Sydney College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hampden-Sydney College is $54,550, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,400. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,422 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Hampden-Sydney College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hampden-Sydney College earn a median of $67,640, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Hampden-Sydney College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hampden-Sydney College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Hampden-Sydney College.
- William Jewell CollegeLiberty, MO · Close peer64% grad $59,268 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health ScienceCincinnati, OH · Close peer64% grad $66,111 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Washington CollegeChestertown, MD · Close peer70% grad $65,518 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Austin CollegeSherman, TX · Close peer68% grad $61,296 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Allegheny CollegeMeadville, PA · Close peer70% grad $62,069 earn 55% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Hendrix CollegeConway, AR · Close peer71% grad $60,376 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hampden-Sydney College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Hampden-Sydney College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note