A study completed by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, “The Colleges Where Low-Income Students Get the Highest ROI,” ranks Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in the top 4% of nearly 3,400 colleges and universities across the country for long-term return on investment.  

The study recognizes institutions that are most valuable for low-income students and calculates rankings by assigning a score that gives a weight to the percentage of low-income students who are enrolled, their graduation rates and their long-term return on investment. According to the study, 60% of students at Vaughn are Pell Grant recipients—with a graduation rate among those students of 40%.  

The median salary for a Vaughn College graduate is $65,000, which is nearly 50% higher than similar institutions. With these figures, it is estimated that a student will make a $1.219 million return on investment over 40 years after graduating from Vaughn.  

“This ranking is further evidence that Vaughn is fulfilling its vision to provide students with a transformational education that provides a lifetime of opportunity,” said Vaughn College President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo. “To be listed among the top institutions in the country for our return on investment demonstrates our alignment with the industries we serve and our focus on supporting the needs of our students.” 

In addition to being ranked no. 219 out of 3,380 US colleges and universities by Georgetown, U.S. News and World Report ranked Vaughn as one of the top colleges for the twelfth year in a row and in the top 15 institutions for “Social Mobility” in the regional North category this past October. And in a study conducted by The Equality of Opportunity Project, and reported in The New York Times, Vaughn College was ranked number one in upward mobility nationwide among 2,137 colleges, and is the best at moving students from the bottom 40 percent to the top 40 percent in income. 

Students begin thinking about their professional pathway in their first year with a required career development course and are provided opportunities to attend conference, competitions and other events supported by College funding that lead to top-notch internships and entry-level employment. Historically, more than 90 percent of Vaughn graduates are employed or pursuing their education within one year. Recent graduates have secured internships with companies such as Boeing, Gulfstream, NASA and entry-level positions with SpaceX, Endeavor Airlines and LaGuardia Gateway Partners, among many others. 

Learn more on Vaughn’s fast facts page and how it continues to provide the path to a futureproof education. For more information on this study and ranking process, visit https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/lowincome/.