Head-to-head comparison
Middlebury College vs Norwich University: which has better ROI?
Option A Middlebury, VT
Middlebury College
- Net price / year
- $31,483
- Earnings, 10 years
- $76,310
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Option B Northfield, VT
Norwich University
- Net price / year
- $22,257
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,575
- Payback
- 5.2 yrs
Middlebury College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,932 in 4.5 years versus 5.2 years at Norwich University, on median earnings of $76,310 vs $65,575 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Middlebury College | Norwich University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,483 | $22,257 |
| Total net cost | $125,932 | $89,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,310 | $65,575 |
| Median debt | $13,857 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | 5.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $433,068 | $255,272 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Middlebury College or Norwich University?
Norwich University, at $22,257 a year after aid versus $31,483 — a gap of $9,226 a year, or $36,904 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Middlebury College or Norwich University graduates earn more?
Middlebury College graduates report a median $76,310 ten years after entry, $10,735 more than the $65,575 at Norwich University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Middlebury College or Norwich University?
Middlebury College: its completers carry a median $13,857 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Norwich University, a difference of $11,143. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Middlebury College, against 60% at Norwich University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.