Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #804 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $71,699, placing Hampden-Sydney College in the 73.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #463 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Hampden-Sydney College's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, with median earnings four years after enrollment placing it among the top-performing institutions in its cohort. The school's return on investment ranking underscores its ability to deliver meaningful economic value relative to cost.
Azimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #804 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, Hampden-Sydney College enrolls roughly 946 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 83.7% freshman retention rate and a 62.2% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Where Hampden-Sydney College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #463 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $71,699, demonstrating solid long-term financial outcomes for a liberal arts institution. The college's strength in Social Sciences fields anchors this performance, with students moving into careers that deliver meaningful economic returns relative to peer institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Hampden-Sydney College sits in the 30.2 percentile for access and the 19.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 22.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, reflecting a student body drawn primarily from families with higher incomes. The institution's admission rate of 40.9% indicates selective enrollment practices. For admitted students, Hampden-Sydney College's positioning reflects the pricing structure typical of independent liberal arts colleges, where sticker price is offset by need-based aid for families that qualify.
Hampden-Sydney College's published cost of attendance is $70,325. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,422, middle-income families pay around $17,547, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,133. Azimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #1149 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Hampden-Sydney College meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The college's aid structure aims to make attendance affordable across income levels, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $61,239; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $71,699, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Hampden-Sydney College is a strong fit for students seeking a small, private liberal arts experience in VA with a focus on the Social Sciences. The college's intimate scale and residential character appeal to those who value close faculty mentorship and traditional undergraduate education. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $71,699, placing Hampden-Sydney College in the 73.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #463 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting solid financial outcomes relative to peer institutions. The college enrolls a modest share of Pell-eligible students — 22.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — while maintaining a 56.1% graduation rate for this cohort. The 40.9% admit rate indicates selective access, with published costs of $32,133 for higher-income families after accounting for typical aid packages. Fit depends on alignment with the college's Social Sciences focus and comfort with median federal debt of $26,000 at graduation. Students seeking a traditional liberal arts environment with strong graduate outcomes in South will find Hampden-Sydney's combination of scale, focus, and return compelling.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Hampden-Sydney College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Hampden-Sydney College's published cost of attendance is $70,325. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,422, middle-income families pay around $17,547, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,133.
Azimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #1149 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Hampden-Sydney College meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
The college's aid structure aims to make attendance affordable across income levels, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $61,239; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $71,699, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Hampden-Sydney College earn median 4-year earnings of $71,699, placing Hampden-Sydney College in the 73.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hampden-Sydney College #463 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This positions Hampden-Sydney College as a strong value option within the private liberal arts landscape, where long-term earnings outcomes reflect both the quality of instruction and the career pathways available to graduates. The earnings pattern at Hampden-Sydney College is anchored in Social Sciences, which shapes the institution's economic profile.
Business/Managerial Economics is the largest program with 50 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $87,835, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Political Science program graduates 32 students with median earnings of $68,731, while Economics and American History (United States) round out the major enrollment clusters with earnings in the $68,795 and $48,625 ranges respectively.
These programs collectively reflect Hampden-Sydney College's strength in preparing students for stable, professional careers in fields with consistent labor-market demand and clear advancement pathways.
Business/Managerial Economics
50 graduates
Economics
28 graduates
Political Science and Government
32 graduates
Biology, General
22 graduates
History
28 graduates
Hampden-Sydney College's program mix is anchored in the social sciences, reflecting the institution's identity as a liberal arts college with particular strength in humanities and analytical fields. Business/Managerial Economics is the largest program with 50 graduates, followed by Political Science, Economics, American History (United States), and Biology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 225 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes that align with the college's liberal arts mission. The earnings pattern reflects a mix of humanities-grounded and applied-professional fields.
Business/Managerial Economics leads with median earnings of $87,835 four years after enrollment, followed by Economics at $68,795, Political Science at $68,731, Biology, General at $62,515, and American History (United States) at $48,625. This distribution shows how Hampden-Sydney College graduates across different majors achieve competitive four-year outcomes, with particular strength in fields that combine analytical rigor with professional application.
Several of these programs represent pathways where four-year earnings reflect direct workforce entry and early-career advancement. Others, particularly in humanities and social sciences, often lead to graduate study or professional school, meaning four-year earnings undercount the full trajectory of graduates who continue their education.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Hampden-Sydney College's dominant program families align with labor-market demand and long-term career mobility.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Mary Washington Higher acceptance rate (36.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 91 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 86% | $60,613 | Compare |
Randolph-Macon College Higher acceptance rate (33.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 65 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 83% | $58,448 | Compare |
Virginia Commonwealth University Higher acceptance rate (42.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 59 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 93% | $58,128 | Compare |
San Francisco State University Higher acceptance rate (46 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | CA | 96% | $68,077 | Compare |
Monmouth University Higher acceptance rate (39.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 90% | $67,991 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleary University Similar quality tier (#22564 ranked) | MI | 68% | $54,186 | #22564 | Compare |
Cedar Crest College Similar quality tier (#22555 ranked) | PA | 84% | $59,460 | #22555 | Compare |
Dickinson College Similar quality tier (#22551 ranked) | PA | 42% | $70,204 | #22551 | Compare |
Herzing University-Brookfield Similar quality tier (#22577 ranked) | WI | 93% | $36,909 | #22577 | Compare |
Trocaire College Similar quality tier (#22522 ranked) | NY | 97% | $55,318 | #22522 | Compare |
