True College Verdict
A

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · 3,618 undergraduates · 20% receive Pell Grants · admits 41%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

A strong choice. It ranks 151 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 81.8 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $30,606 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
87% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $18,338 against earnings of $85,519, a ratio of 0.21. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Brandeis University. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 87% of students graduate, better than 93% of four-year colleges.
  • It beats expectations: it graduates 18 points more students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (87% against an expected 69%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
  • Students stay: 87% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 81% of four-year colleges.
  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $85,519, higher than 91% of four-year colleges.
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $18,338 in federal loans against earnings of $85,519.

Why it is bad

  • Expensive: the average student pays about $30,606 a year after grants, more than at 85% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
87%
Better than 93% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
87%
Better than 81% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$85,519
Better than 91% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$18,338
Better than 89% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$30,606
Better than 15% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$70,957
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Biology, General170$25,452$17,500
Economics141$66,401$17,500
Business/Commerce, General111$54,192$17,489
Research and Experimental Psychology109n/a$17,785
Public Policy Analysis101$33,138$18,125
Computer Science92$80,309$18,250
Political Science and Government60$44,356$17,750
Neurobiology and Neurosciences54$32,569$18,000
Applied Mathematics52n/an/a
Area Studies51$37,208$17,000
International/Globalization Studies38$45,249$17,125
Sociology37$38,289$16,250

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Brandeis University, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.