VanderCook College of Music Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
VanderCook College of Music is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, enrolling about 76 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 89.47% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,863 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $30,910
- 2024 Average Net Price: $19,780 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 89.47% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 76 94.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 66.67%
- Carnegie Classification: Not classified (exclusively post-baccalaureate programs)
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 54.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 11.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 113
- Applicants (IPEDS): 37
- Room & Board: $14,008 annual estimate
VanderCook College of Music: what the data shows
Common questions about VanderCook College of Music, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is VanderCook College of Music?
VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (ZIP 60616-3731).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is VanderCook College of Music public or private?
VanderCook College of Music is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does VanderCook College of Music cost?
Published tuition: $30,910.
Average net price after aid: $19,780.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $16,308 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,968 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,485 |
| $110,001+ | $31,777 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $123,640.
How hard is it to get into VanderCook College of Music?
Admission rate: 89.47%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is VanderCook College of Music?
Total enrollment: 76 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 113 students.
Graduate enrollment: 216 students.
About 95% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at VanderCook College of Music?
150%-time completion rate: 66.67%.
First-year retention: 88.2%.
What do graduates of VanderCook College of Music earn?
Median earnings: $45,704 six years after entry; $47,863 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
26.26% of students receive Pell grants.
What is VanderCook College of Music known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Music Teacher Education (50 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is VanderCook College of Music a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 89.47%; completion rate 66.67%; median earnings $47,863 at 10 years; net price $19,780. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$30,910
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at VanderCook College of Music was $30,910.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$19,780
2024 Value
In 2024 VanderCook College of Music had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,780.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$79,120 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$19,780 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$123,640 4-Year Tuition
$14,008 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$46,118 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$184,472 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for VanderCook College of Music.
Financial Aid by Income Level
26.26% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
42.42% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at VanderCook College of Music was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for VanderCook College of Music in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $24,890 | $24,890 | $25,677 |
| 2014 | $25,690 | $25,690 | $23,608 |
| 2015 | $26,300 | $26,300 | $25,287 |
| 2016 | $27,180 | $27,180 | $26,950 |
| 2017 | $28,434 | $28,434 | $28,433 |
| 2018 | $28,434 | $28,434 | $22,267 |
| 2019 | $29,070 | $29,070 | $19,160 |
| 2020 | $29,800 | $29,800 | $25,393 |
| 2021 | $29,800 | $29,800 | $20,738 |
| 2022 | $29,800 | $29,800 | $11,058 |
| 2023 | $30,910 | $30,910 | $17,094 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
89.47% Acceptance Rate
37 Total Applicants
36 Students Admitted
17 First-Time Students Enrolled
47.22% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
VanderCook College of Music reported total enrollment of about 76 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 54% male and 46% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (42.1%), Hispanic or Latino (36.8%), and Black or African American (7.9%). About 26.26% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at VanderCook College of Music in 2024 is 76 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 113 students. Graduate enrollment is about 216 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
88.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 42.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
50.00% 100% Completion Time
66.67% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 50.00% of students graduating from VanderCook College of Music completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Music Teacher Education: 62% male / 38% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for VanderCook College of Music.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$47,863 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
56.41% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
504.94% Return on Investment
5.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for VanderCook College of Music.
Top Programs by Completions
1 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 2 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Music Teacher Education: 50 completions
Most popular programs at VanderCook College of Music.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for VanderCook College of Music graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for VanderCook College of Music from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 11.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,945
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,984
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
VanderCook College of Music is a private non-profit institution located in Chicago, IL, classified as Not classified (exclusively post-baccalaureate programs). In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Music Teacher Education. Enrollment is approximately 76 students. Student body composition includes White (42.1%), Hispanic or Latino (36.8%), Black or African American (7.9%). The admission rate is 89.47%. The 150%-time completion rate is 66.67%. Approximately 26.26% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Not classified (exclusively post-baccalaureate programs)
Location
Chicago, IL 60616-3731
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
VanderCook College of Music provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is VanderCook College of Music located?
VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL.
What is VanderCook College of Music's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at VanderCook College of Music is 89.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 37 applicants and 36 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does VanderCook College of Music cost?
Reported tuition is $30,910 and average net price is $19,780 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,008 annually.
What is the student body demographics at VanderCook College of Music?
VanderCook College of Music reports undergraduate enrollment of about 113 students, White (42.1%), Hispanic or Latino (36.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of VanderCook College of Music earn?
Median earnings are $45,704 six years after entry and $47,863 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at VanderCook College of Music?
The 150%-time completion rate is 66.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do VanderCook College of Music students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is VanderCook College of Music public or private?
VanderCook College of Music is a private nonprofit institution located in Chicago, IL.
Is VanderCook College of Music an HBCU?
No. VanderCook College of Music is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is VanderCook College of Music a tribal college?
No. VanderCook College of Music is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is VanderCook College of Music a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—VanderCook College of Music reports 36.8% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is VanderCook College of Music religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for VanderCook College of Music in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Illinois college costs
- Illinois colleges by ROI
- Chicago, Illinois city profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Illinois
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.