Vassar College
#8 Best Biology Colleges in New York- Graduation Rate
- 90% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $71,366 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $39,343 F
- 130% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 19% A
- Admits roughly 19% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.6 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Biology Colleges in New York.
Every $1 spent returns $15.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,290,582.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduates earn 75% more than the national college median.
-
A 90% graduation rate — 58% above the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $15.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Vassar College Matters
Vassar College is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,444
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Visual & Performing Arts, Psychology
Why students choose Vassar College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 19% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1450–1550. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $39,343 a year after grants and scholarships — 130% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $71,366 ten years after enrolling — 75% above the typical college, against $18,625 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 71% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.84 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of just 19%, Vassar College caters to a driven group of students who are looking for a rigorous academic environment. It’s a place where individuals interested in social sciences, biology, visual arts, computer science, and psychology can thrive. The 90% graduation rate speaks volumes about the supportive community and resources available to students. This strong completion rate indicates that students not only enroll but also feel empowered to finish their degrees.
Looking ahead, graduates earn a median income of around $71,366 a decade after leaving Vassar. That’s a solid return on investment, especially considering the quality of education they receive. Although 19% of students receive Pell Grants, many find their way to financial stability post-graduation. While we don’t have specific mobility data, the promising earnings suggest that students often move into fulfilling careers, leveraging their degrees effectively.
When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price after aid sits at $39,343, which can be daunting but is manageable given the median debt of $18,625. This debt level is relatively low compared to many private institutions, allowing graduates to focus on their careers rather than being burdened by excessive loans. Students who tend to thrive here are those who are not only academically inclined but also engaged in campus life and community, ready to take full advantage of the resources Vassar has to offer.
Rankings
- #8 Best Biology Colleges in New York
- #19 Best Computer Science Colleges in New York
- #19 Best Data Science Colleges in New York
- #19 Best Colleges for Building Social Capital
- #20 Best Bachelor's Programs in New York
- #21 Best Master's Programs in New York
- #22 Best Colleges in New York
- #32 Best Psychology Colleges in New York
Can I Get In?
How selective Vassar College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Vassar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Poughkeepsie, New York, Vassar College sets a competitive bar: about 19% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,494. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Retention Rate
- 95%
- SAT Average
- 1494
- ACT Midpoint
- 33
- SAT Range
- 1450–1550
- ACT Range
- 33–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 85%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,587
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 14%
- Applicants
- 11,412
- Admitted
- 2,129
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Vassar College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 29% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 29%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 31%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 12%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 31.2%
- vs 18.6% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 999 Early Decision applicants, 312 were admitted — a 31.2% admit rate, roughly 1.7× the 18.6% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 47% of the entering class (312 of 665 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 43% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Vassar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Vassar College is $71,030, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $39,343. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,953 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,625 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $71,030
- Out-of-State
- $71,030
- Avg Net Price
- $39,343
- Median Debt
- $18,625
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 39%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,953
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,548
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,126
- Family Income $110K+
- $56,615
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Vassar College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Vassar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Vassar College earn a median of $71,366, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,177
- 8 Years
- $60,671
- 10 Years
- $71,366
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (541)
- 82%
- 100% (541)
- 82%
- 100% (541)
- 82%
- 100% (541)
- 82%
How Vassar Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Vassar College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Vassar College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $39,343/year ($157,372 total). Graduates earn $71,366 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,447,954 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,290,582 (15.6× your investment). The median debt is $18,625, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 90% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $157,372
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,447,954
- Net Return
- $2,290,582
- ROI Multiple
- 15.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $39,343
- Median Debt
- $18,625
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 90%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Vassar College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Vassar College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.09%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $145,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.09%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 32.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $197,140
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,959,063
- Investment Income
- $-139,775,931
Top Programs
The fields Vassar College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 22% $68,909 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 18% $48,746 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 10% $47,206 early-career
- Psychology 7% $34,355 early-career
- English & Literature 7% $36,562 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $82,621 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 5% $59,033 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Vassar College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Vassar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Poughkeepsie, New York, Vassar College sets a competitive bar: about 19% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,494. The graduation rate is roughly 90%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Vassar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Vassar College is $71,030, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $39,343. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,953 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,625 in federal student loans.
Is Vassar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Vassar College earn a median of $71,366, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Vassar College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Vassar College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.09%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $145,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Vassar College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Vassar College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 16% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Vassar College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Vassar College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 31%, about 1.7 times the overall 19% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 47% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Vassar College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Vassar College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 43% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Vassar College (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Vassar College?
About 29% of admitted students choose to enroll at Vassar College — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Vassar College.
- Denison UniversityGranville, OH · Close peer79% grad $67,753 earn 17% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Close peer87% grad $65,222 earn 18% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI · Close peer89% grad $68,140 earn 19% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · Close peer82% grad $69,363 earn 21% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TX · Close peer83% grad $71,668 earn 26% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · Close peer90% grad $75,525 earn 20% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Vassar College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Vassar College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 16% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note