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Poughkeepsie, NY
Vassar College is a prestigious liberal arts college located in Poughkeepsie, New York. Established in 1861, it is one of the oldest and most respected institutions of higher education in the United States. Vassar has a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence, offering its students a rigorous, intellectually stimulating education. The college prides itself on its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, cultivating a vibrant campus community that embraces individuals from all walks of life.
At Vassar College, students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of academic disciplines. The college offers more than 50 majors across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. With its student-faculty ratio of 8:1, Vassar ensures that each student receives personalized attention and support from expert faculty members. The curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, empowering students to excel in their chosen fields and make meaningful contributions to society.
Vassar College offers a vibrant campus culture that encourages students to engage in extracurricular activities and pursue their passions outside the classroom. The college boasts a wide variety of student organizations, including clubs, sports teams, and student-run publications. Campus life is enriched by a thriving arts scene, with regular performances, exhibitions, and creative events. VassarÆs picturesque campus provides a beautiful backdrop for students to live, learn, and grow, fostering a close-knit community and a sense of belonging. Whether exploring the outdoors, attending lectures and workshops, or participating in social activism, students at Vassar College find numerous opportunities to shape their education and personal development.
Located in Poughkeepsie, NY and set in a suburban environment, Vassar College is a private comprehensive higher education institution. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 17%. The freshman retention rate at Vassar College is 94% and the six-year graduation rate is 89%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Read more about what Vassar College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,456
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17%
Acceptance Rate
$70,050
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Learn some relevant information about admission policy and requirements at Vassar College.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,153 in 2024. Vassar College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Vassar College provides a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 26% and ACT scores 13%. 97% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 3% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 100 and 2.5 between 24-29.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 740 and an average SAT Math score of 740.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is January 1. When filling out the application as a transfer student, the application deadline is March 15.
17%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Vassar College was 94%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 89%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best match for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Vassar College in 2024 was 2,456.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 71% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,456, 163 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 11 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 922 male and 1,512 female full-time students in 2024.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Vassar College.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 287, while the number of African American students was 94. 289 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 202 identified with more than one race. There were also 56 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Vassar College? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $70,050 in 2024. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2024 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $980.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important financial factor. The approximate price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $2,250.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
At Vassar College, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $18,240. If you only wanted a room on the campus, you had to pay $13,120 for the 2024 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 70,050 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,240 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 2,250 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,540 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Vassar College, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 359 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $64,826.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 1,337 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Vassar College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 1,351. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $3,326,391, and state $791,873. The students of Vassar College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $70,922,668, and external in the amount of $2,579,374.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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Fall Transfer
Fall Transfer
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-03-15
Majors
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2024, this ratio at Vassar College was 7:1. That means that there were 7 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 357 faculty members. This number included 184 men and 182 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about campus life at Vassar College.
Its campus spans 1,000 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 170 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Ultimate Frisbee, followed by Vassar Greens and VICE (programming social events). Other popular student organizations at this school are WVKR radio station and Student Association.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Vassar College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Vassar College offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Vassar College.
All in all, campus life at Vassar College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Vassar College.
Career Counselling
At Vassar College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Knowing what salary you can expect once you have completed your studies can help you decide if a certain school matches your career goals.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 60,866 USD.
$60,866
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY.
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Vassar College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Vassar College is 70,050 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Vassar College is 17%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Vassar College is 94%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.