VanderCook College of Music
- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,863 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $19,780 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 89% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 12.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $12.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $926,552.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $12.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About VanderCook College of Music
VanderCook College of Music is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 76
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose VanderCook College of Music
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
Accessible — admits about 89% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,780 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,863 ten years after enrolling — 17% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.
See mobility →Can I Get In?
How selective VanderCook College of Music 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 VanderCook College of Music? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
VanderCook College of Music, located in Chicago, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 11%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,945
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 4:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- Applicants
- 22
- Admitted
- 22
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 VanderCook College of Music? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at VanderCook College of Music is $30,910, 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 $19,780. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,308 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $30,910
- Out-of-State
- $30,910
- Avg Net Price
- $19,780
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,308
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,968
- Family Income $110K+
- $31,777
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 VanderCook College of Music — 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 VanderCook College of Music Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of VanderCook College of Music earn a median of $47,863, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,704
- 8 Years
- $45,746
- 10 Years
- $47,863
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.56x
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (13)
- 52%
- 100% (13)
- 52%
- 100% (13)
- 52%
- 100% (13)
- 52%
How VanderCook 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 VanderCook College of Music Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, VanderCook College of Music delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,780/year ($79,120 total). Graduates earn $47,863 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,005,672 in total earnings — a net gain of $926,552 (12.7× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $79,120
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,005,672
- Net Return
- $926,552
- ROI Multiple
- 12.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,780
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $410,792
- Total Expenses
- $6,524,656
- Federal Grants
- $326,037
- Investment Income
- $-23,628
Top Programs
The fields VanderCook College of Music 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.
- Education 95% $43,782 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
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 VanderCook College of Music's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Animator$86,120 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- CSpecial Ed Teacher$65,910 · 2% growthResilient 96
- CElementary Teacher$63,670 · 1% growthResilient 96
- D+Interior Designer$62,510 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Museum Curator$59,880 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- CESL Teacher$59,720 · 4% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into VanderCook College of Music? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
VanderCook College of Music, located in Chicago, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend VanderCook College of Music? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at VanderCook College of Music is $30,910, 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 $19,780. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,308 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is VanderCook College of Music Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of VanderCook College of Music earn a median of $47,863, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to VanderCook College of Music.
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