Vassar College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Poughkeepsie, New York. It enrolls 2,444 students (a mid-sized 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
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes95
Value13
Affordability11
Selectivity95
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 18.6%, Vassar College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
18.6%
Very Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1450 – 1550
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
33 – 35
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Vassar College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
6.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Vassar College 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 $39,343 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$39,343
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
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
$71,030
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,240
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,740
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,350
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,350
Total Cost of Attendance
$87,419
Application fee: $65 (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
$15,953
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,548
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,126
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,773
Over $110,000
$56,615
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.
$3,25010%percentile
$7,45025%percentile
$18,625Medianpercentile
$20,25075%percentile
$24,35090%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 $12,531
↓ $6,094
No Pell $19,000
↑ $375
Female students $17,772
↓ $853
Male students $16,771
↓ $1,854
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($18,625), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
91% of full-time students who enrolled at Vassar College graduate within six years, and 95% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
91%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
95%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Vassar College earn a median of $71,366 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$71,366
Earning > $25K
81%
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
$58,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$66,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$55,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$58,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$63,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,800, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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.
Stable ↑
3.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Vassar College is home to 2,444 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,444
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
14%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 54.1%1,321
Hispanic 13.6%332
Asian 11.7%286
Other 8.2%201
International 6.1%148
Black 3.8%92
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Vassar College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbPoughkeepsie, New York
Housing
Strongly residential2,455 beds for 2,444 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Vassar College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
40 distinct programs across
17 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 Vassar College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.5B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$117,419
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
297 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
97
33%
$156,023
Associate Professors
58
20%
$120,379
Assistant Professors
62
21%
$96,714
Lecturers
15
5%
$98,048
No Rank
65
22%
$81,386
Pros & Cons of Vassar College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Vassar College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Vassar College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vassar College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Vassar College.
Is Vassar College hard to get into?
Vassar College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 18.6%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.
What is the acceptance rate at Vassar College?
Vassar College has an acceptance rate of 18.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Vassar College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Vassar College scored between 1450 and 1550 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 Vassar College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Vassar College scored between 33 and 35 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Vassar College cost?
The average net price after aid at Vassar College is $39,343 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Vassar College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $71,366 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $39,343 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Vassar College known for?
Vassar College is best known for its programs in Economics, Experimental Psychology, Mathematics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Vassar College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Vassar College are $71,366, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Vassar College accredited?
Yes. Vassar College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Vassar College?
Vassar College enrolls 2,444 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Vassar College?
Vassar College graduates 91% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Vassar College a public or private college?
Vassar College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Vassar College located?
Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, New York.
What programs does Vassar College offer?
Vassar College offers 40 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Experimental Psychology, Mathematics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Vassar College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Vassar College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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