Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Norwich University logo

Norwich University

Private nonprofit Northfield, VT · Rural · New England · 100% data
A Earnings A- Social Mobility C+ Value
Graduation Rate
61% C+
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$65,575 A
Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$22,257 D+
30% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
74% C+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +61% vs avg
Graduation +6% vs avg
Net Price 30% vs avg
Mobility Top 13%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years.

16.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,367,485.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 61% more than the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 2.77% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $16.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Norwich University Matters

Norwich University is a private university in Northfield, VT and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
2,428
Setting
Rural
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Criminal Justice, Health Professions

Why students choose Norwich University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 10% of colleges
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 37% overall
A
Earnings
$65,575 median
C+
Value
2.9× net price
D+
Affordability
$22,257/yr net
C+
Graduation
61% graduate
A-
Social Mobility
2.8% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Selectivity
74% admit rate
C-
Diversity
0.53 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 2,428 students, Norwich University is a solid option for those looking for a private nonprofit education in a close-knit community. The school is particularly well-suited for individuals interested in fields like Criminal Justice, Computer Science, Business, Health Professions, and Engineering. The acceptance rate of 74% indicates that the university welcomes a diverse range of applicants, making it accessible for many students who are eager to pursue their academic passions.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $65,575 within ten years, which gives a sense of the financial return on their educational investment. This level of earning power is often a critical consideration for students weighing their options. Although we don’t have mobility data, it’s clear that the focus on practical programs can help graduates build solid careers and move up in their fields.

In terms of finances, the net price after aid is approximately $22,257, and the median debt for graduates stands at $25,000. This scenario positions Norwich as an affordable choice for many students, especially those who are resourceful and willing to seek out financial aid. Overall, students who thrive here are often those with a clear vision for their career paths and a desire to engage actively in their education.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Norwich University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Norwich University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Northfield, Vermont, Norwich University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,190. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.

Acceptance Rate
74%
Retention Rate
79%
SAT Average
1190
SAT Range
1060–1320
Full-Time Faculty
49%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,275
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.53
First-Gen Students
24%
Applicants
4,268
Admitted
3,526

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 Norwich University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Norwich University is $49,740, 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 $22,257. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,610 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$49,740
Out-of-State
$49,740
Avg Net Price
$22,257
Median Debt
$25,000
Pell Grant Rate
24%
Federal Loan Rate
46%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$15,610
Family Income $30K–$48K
$16,164
Family Income $48K–$75K
$17,332
Family Income $110K+
$27,854

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 Norwich University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Norwich University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Norwich University earn a median of $65,575, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$59,743
8 Years
$68,991
10 Years
$65,575
Debt-to-Earnings
0.38x
Earning > $25K
73%

Earnings Trajectory

$59,743 6yr $68,991 8yr $65,575 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (329)
50%
100% (329)
50%
100% (329)
50%
100% (329)
50%

How Norwich Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation61%Earnings 10yr$66KNet Price$22KRetention79%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate24%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$16K$0-30K$16K$30-48K$17K$48-75K$28K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%8.2%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%33.7%MOBILITY2.77%

College ROI Calculator

Is Norwich University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Norwich University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,257/year ($89,028 total). Graduates earn $65,575 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,456,513 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,367,485 (16.4× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$89,028
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,456,513
Net Return
$1,367,485
ROI Multiple
16.4×
Cost Per Year
$22,257
Median Debt
$25,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
61%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Norwich University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Norwich University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.77%, among the highest in the country. About 8.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 33.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.77%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
33.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
8.2%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$119,833
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Norwich University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Norwich University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.60, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.60
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.9%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-38,154,000

Top Programs

The fields Norwich University 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Norwich University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Northfield, Vermont, Norwich University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,190. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Norwich University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Norwich University is $49,740, 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 $22,257. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,610 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.

Is Norwich University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Norwich University earn a median of $65,575, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Norwich University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Norwich University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.77%, among the highest in the country. About 8.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 33.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Norwich University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Norwich University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.60, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Norwich University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys