Gallaudet University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Washington, District of Columbia. It enrolls 812 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes35
Value51
Affordability81
Selectivity39
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 58.1%, Gallaudet University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
58.1%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
780 – 1022
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
14 – 17
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Gallaudet University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
0.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Gallaudet University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,845 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,845
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
58%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$19,654
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,892
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,892
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$40,374
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,129
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,238
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,236
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,830
Over $110,000
$18,318
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,17325%percentile
$18,000Medianpercentile
$21,25075%percentile
$31,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,875
↓ $4,125
No Pell $10,089
↓ $7,911
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $6,000
Independent students $16,675
↓ $1,325
Female students $13,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $12,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($18,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
60% of full-time students who enrolled at Gallaudet University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Gallaudet University earn a median of $43,101 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,101
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$36,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Gallaudet University is home to 812 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
812
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 41.1%334
Hispanic 25.9%210
Black 18.4%149
Asian 4.9%40
International 3.7%30
Other 3.1%25
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gallaudet University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityWashington, District of Columbia
Housing
Strongly residential893 beds for 812 students
Adult Learners
24%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Gallaudet University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
43 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gallaudet University is 6:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
6:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$396M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,996
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
164 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
56
34%
$117,115
Associate Professors
35
21%
$95,460
Assistant Professors
37
23%
$82,400
Instructors
10
6%
$77,990
Lecturers
26
16%
$77,501
Pros & Cons of Gallaudet University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gallaudet University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Gallaudet University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gallaudet University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gallaudet University.
Is Gallaudet University hard to get into?
Admissions at Gallaudet University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 58.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Gallaudet University?
Gallaudet University has an acceptance rate of 58.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Gallaudet University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gallaudet University scored between 780 and 1022 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Gallaudet University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gallaudet University scored between 14 and 17 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Gallaudet University cost?
The average net price after aid at Gallaudet University is $15,845 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gallaudet University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,101 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,845 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gallaudet University known for?
Gallaudet University is best known for its programs in American Sign Language, Ethnic Studies, Communication Disorders Sciences and. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gallaudet University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gallaudet University are $43,101, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gallaudet University accredited?
Yes. Gallaudet University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Gallaudet University?
Gallaudet University enrolls 812 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gallaudet University?
Gallaudet University graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gallaudet University a public or private college?
Gallaudet University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Gallaudet University located?
Gallaudet University is located in Washington, District of Columbia.
What programs does Gallaudet University offer?
Gallaudet University offers 43 distinct programs. The most popular include American Sign Language, Ethnic Studies, Communication Disorders Sciences and.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gallaudet University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gallaudet University is 6:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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