Vassar College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Vassar College is a private institution located in Poughkeepsie, New York and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Vassar College admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 21%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1490 and an ACT composite around 33. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $39,343 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Vassar College?

Most admitted students at Vassar College present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.

What does Vassar College weight in admissions?

Vassar College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Vassar College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 720–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 735. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 33–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Vassar College actually cost?

Published tuition is $71,030 for in-state students and $71,030 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,240 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $39,343 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Vassar College

Will my child graduate from Vassar College?

These predict outcomes at Vassar College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Vassar College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Vassar College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Research and Experimental Psychology and Mathematics. Across all programs, Vassar College confers roughly 345 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $103,043 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Vassar College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Vassar College disclosed 19 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 7.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 3 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Vassar College?

About 97% of undergraduates at Vassar College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in New York parents ask about

• Colgate University
  14% acceptance
• Hamilton College
  14% acceptance
• Barnard College
  9% acceptance
• Marist College
  57% acceptance
• Fashion Institute of Technology
  60% acceptance
• Pratt Institute-Main
  73% acceptance
• Parsons School of Design at The New School
  63% acceptance
• The Juilliard School
  9% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Vassar College