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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.
Vassar College is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Poughkeepsie, NY and set in a suburban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 18%. The freshman retention rate at Vassar College is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 91%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 1. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Learn more about what Vassar College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,462
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$73,275
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
91%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. What are the admission requirements for Vassar College?
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,311 in 2025. Vassar College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose 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 offers a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
31% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 12% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 96% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 4% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 99 and 1 between 24-29.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 740 and an average SAT Math score of 740.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Vassar College was 95%, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 91%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 2,462 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 69% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,462, 148 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 8.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 918 male and 1,488 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing 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 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 286, and the number of Black American students was 92. 332 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 199 identified with more than one race. There were also 64 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Vassar College is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2025 was $73,275 for full-time domestic students. Vassar College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $990.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial factor. The estimated expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $900.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Vassar College was $19,055 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 came to $13,705 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 73,275 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,055 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 900 |
| Total Expense | $ 93,230 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial help available to students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Vassar College.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 333 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $68,147.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,416 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Vassar College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,428. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $4,128,302, and state $987,834. The students of Vassar College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $80,188,056, and external in the amount of $2,585,002.
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.
Majors
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at Vassar College was 7:1. That means that there were 7 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 367 faculty members at this school. This number included 173 male and 190 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Vassar College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Vassar College: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about campus life at Vassar College.
Its campus spans 1,000 acres.
Student Organizations
Engaging with a variety of student organizations can enrich your educational experience and make it more rewarding.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 170. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Ultimate Frisbee, followed by Vassar Greens and VICE (programming social events). Other popular organizations at Vassar College are WVKR radio station and Student Association.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Vassar College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Vassar College, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/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
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
Students who find employment within six months of graduating can expect an average base annual starting salary of 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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According to the latest information, the tuition for Vassar College is 73,275 USD a year.
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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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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Vassar College is 18%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Vassar College is 95%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 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 © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
