Vassar College: the complete school report for parents

What does Vassar College actually weigh in admissions?

Vassar College rates 7 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, the essay, extracurricular activities, recommendations, personal qualities, talent. It does not consider 2 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Vassar College's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What is the Vassar College waitlist really like?

Vassar College offered a place on its waiting list to 918 applicants and 510 accepted one. 30 were ultimately admitted. That is 5.9% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Vassar College admitted 14.8% of 365 transfer applicants, against 20.9% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 38.4% of ED applicants were admitted against 20.9% overall, a gap of 18 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What does my child need to take in high school?

Vassar College sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 20 academic units. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.

What will Vassar College actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $39,343 a year at Vassar College after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $76,140. The published price is not what most families pay.

45% of Vassar College graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $28,375 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $197 a month in repayment. Vassar College’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Vassar College pay off?

Graduates earn a median $71,366 ten years after entering, and $49,177 at six years. 80% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 93% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$115,240 to $38,959, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Vassar College:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

95% of first-years return for a second year. 81% graduate within four years and 88% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 87.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 88.0% of everyone else, a gap of 1.0 points.

How big are the classes?

69% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 7:1, and 85% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Vassar College like?

2,514 undergraduates, 66% of first-years from out of state. 100% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 97% across all undergraduates. 14% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $80,899.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Vassar College recommends 20 academic units.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• Early Decision is worth 18 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 30 of 510 who waited were admitted, about 6%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $115,240 five years out against $38,959 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Vassar College

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