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Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, New York 12604

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Suburban

Highly selective — strong graduate outcomes

Vassar College is a private suburban institution in Poughkeepsie, New York. Admission is competitive, with an average SAT of 1513.

A mid-sized campus of 2.4K undergraduates with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

89% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $71,366 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $38,182.

Established
1861
Mascot
The Brewer
Type
Private liberal arts college
Conference
Division III of the NCAA
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

18%Acceptance
1513SAT Avg
2,430Students
8:1Student:Faculty
89%Grad Rate
$71,366Earnings 10yr
$38,182Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate17.7%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1513

Reading & WritingMid: 735
720770
MathMid: 745
715780

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 33
3335

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Financial Aid

Pell Grant eligible
21%
First-generation
14%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$67,805
Room & Board$17,415
Books & Supplies$900
Total Cost of Attendance$83,573
Average Net Price$38,182
Median Debt at Graduation$18,625
Monthly Payment (10yr)$197

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$15,964
$30–48K$19,653
$48–75K$25,779
$75–110K$30,066
$110K+$54,072

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

57.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.3%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$17,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

18

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

4

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

2

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

5

Drug Arrests

4

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Student-faculty ratio
8:1

Programs (43)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

94%

Positive

Student Body

Undergrads
2,430
Gender Split
62% / 38%
Women / Men
First Generation
14%
Pell Grant Recipients
21%

Race & Ethnicity

White 55%
Black 4%
Hispanic 12%
Asian 12%
Two+ 8%
Int'l 7%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate89.1%
Freshman Retention94.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$49,177
10 Years$71,366

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#12
vs 2024
Forbes
#102
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#11
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Brewers

VolleyballTennis championshipsRugbyDivision 2Volleyball capturesCollegiate tennis

History & Fun Facts

  • History An 1861 oil portrait of Matthew Vassar by Charles Loring Elliott Vassar was founded as a women's school under the name "Vassar Female College" in 1861.
  • It was chartered by its namesake, brewer Matthew Vassar, in 1861 in the Hudson Valley, about 70 miles (110 km) north of New York City.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

143Very High

Estimated from NY state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

New Yorkpop. 8.3M
68 mi(118 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
137 mi(237 min)
Bostonpop. 675K
153 mi(265 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

SWF New York Stewart17 mi
LGA New York LaGuardia63 mi
BDL Hartford Bradley65 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA153 mi · ~4h 25m drive
New York, NY68 mi · ~1h 58m drive
Hartford, CT63 mi · ~1h 49m drive
Providence, RI128 mi · ~3h 42m drive
Albany, NY67 mi · ~1h 56m drive
Syracuse, NY149 mi · ~4h 18m drive
Rochester, NY215 mi · ~6h 13m drive
Buffalo, NY268 mi · ~7h 45m drive
Philadelphia, PA137 mi · ~3h 57m drive
Pittsburgh, PA329 mi · ~9h 30m drive
Harrisburg, PA184 mi · ~5h 19m drive
Newark, NJ67 mi · ~1h 56m drive
Trenton, NJ111 mi · ~3h 12m drive
Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Vassar College Application Checklist

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