Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Gallaudet University #294 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Gallaudet University sits in the 32.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $5,977 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Gallaudet University #862 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Gallaudet University earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for a specialized university serving a historically underserved population. The composite ranking reflects how Gallaudet University converts its distinctive access mission into real graduate earnings and upward mobility — outcomes that hold up against the broader nonprofit four-year landscape.
Azimuth ranks Gallaudet University #294 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Washington, DC, Gallaudet University enrolls roughly 812 undergraduates. Retention stands at 71.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 47.3%. The composite is anchored by what Gallaudet University does for its students after graduation. Graduates earn about $5,977 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Gallaudet University in the 32.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $55,195, placing Gallaudet University in the 78.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration is Business, which shapes the institution's graduate earnings profile and career pathways. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite position. Gallaudet University enrolls 57.9% Pell Grant recipients and 33.9% first-generation students, reflecting the institution's role in serving students from a range of economic backgrounds. Gallaudet University sits in the 79.6 percentile for access and the 81.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility outcomes place the institution in the 41.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Published cost of attendance is $40,374. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $14,129, middle-income families pay around $14,236, higher-income families pay approximately $18,318. Azimuth ranks Gallaudet University #260 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 81.8 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,442. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,195, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Gallaudet University is a distinctive private university in Washington, DC, serving primarily Deaf and hard-of-hearing students across a range of undergraduate programs anchored in Business and related fields. It is a strong fit for students who want a specialized academic community with a clear cultural and linguistic identity, and who are weighing long-term financial outcomes alongside that mission-driven environment. Graduates earn in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Gallaudet University sits in the 32.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $5,977 less than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. 57.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 33.9% are first-generation college students, reflecting the university's commitment to broad access. For Pell-eligible students, the net price structure and available federal aid programs — including those specific to Deaf students — can meaningfully shape what families actually pay relative to the $18,318 net price for higher-income families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Gallaudet's mission is specifically oriented toward the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, so students who thrive here are those who seek that environment intentionally, and the program mix centers on Business and applied fields rather than broad STEM or research-intensive tracks.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Gallaudet University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
American Sign Language (ASL)
19 graduates
Forensic Social Work
24 graduates
African-American/Black Studies
19 graduates
Psychology, General
24 graduates
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
14 graduates
Gallaudet University's program mix centers on Business, which accounts for 13% of graduates, followed by Arts at 7% and Social Sciences at 4%. This applied-professional orientation shapes a curriculum designed to move graduates into stable, workforce-ready careers — a signature that reflects the university's mission of serving Deaf and hard-of-hearing students across a focused set of high-demand fields.
The largest programs by graduate volume are Psychology, General (24 graduates), Social Work (24 graduates), Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies (19 graduates), American Sign Language (19 graduates), and Communication and Media Studies (17 graduates). Among these, American Sign Language stands out: Azimuth ranks it #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $70,859 — a strong result for a program of its cohort size.
The highest aggregate return across the institution belongs to American Sign Language, which combines meaningful enrollment scale with competitive earnings outcomes. On the earnings side, American Sign Language leads the institution: Azimuth ranks it #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $70,859 — the strongest early-career outcome among Gallaudet University's ranked programs.
Across 16 programs serving roughly 201 students annually, Gallaudet University's program portfolio reflects a deliberate focus on fields with direct workforce pathways, consistent with the [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) methodology that weights cohort scale alongside earnings outcomes.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $40,374. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $14,129, middle-income families pay around $14,236, higher-income families pay approximately $18,318.
Azimuth ranks Gallaudet University #260 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 81.8 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,442.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,195, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Gallaudet University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,195, placing Gallaudet University in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,977 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 32.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Gallaudet University #319 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
American Sign Language reports 19 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $70,859, ranked #1 nationally in its major.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore Higher acceptance rate (29.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 86 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MD | 90% | $47,697 | Compare |
Virginia Union University Higher acceptance rate (36.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 96 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 98% | $38,275 | Compare |
Wilson College Higher acceptance rate (29 percentage points higher) and located 80 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 90% | $43,326 | Compare |
North Carolina Central University Higher acceptance rate (29.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NC | 90% | $42,968 | Compare |
Tennessee State University Higher acceptance rate (31.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | TN | 93% | $42,730 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colby College Similar quality tier (#10788 ranked) | ME | 7% | $80,490 | #10788 | Compare |
Emory University-Oxford College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#10820 ranked) | GA | 13% | $80,137 | #10820 | Compare |
University Of St Francis Similar quality tier (#10825 ranked) | IL | 65% | $63,926 | #10825 | Compare |
Dominican University Of California Similar quality tier (#10752 ranked) | CA | 84% | $84,713 | #10752 | Compare |
Clarkson College Similar quality tier (#10866 ranked) | NE | 78% | $64,876 | #10866 | Compare |
