Acceptance Rate
19%
Avg. SAT
1550
75th percentile
“Vassar College: the quirky Hudson Valley liberal arts haven where eccentric intellectuals and artists debate philosophy over farm-fresh ice cream.”
Poughkeepsie, NY
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
You'll step onto Vassar's 1,000-acre Victorian Gothic campus knowing you’ve arrived at a place born from bold ambition: in 1861, brewer Matthew Vassar poured his fortune into creating one of America’s first elite women’s colleges, insisting women deserved the same rigorous education as men. It stayed all-women until 1969, when it proudly went co-ed on its own terms after rejecting a merger with Yale. Today, Vassar attracts curious, independent thinkers—poets who code, activists who analyze data, and performers who ponder astrophysics—who revel in its progressive, collaborative spirit. Poughkeepsie offers a leafy, affordable suburb 75 minutes north of NYC by Metro-North train, with Walkway Over the Hudson hikes and farm stands nearby, but trade that for a sleepy town vibe: limited nightlife means weekends often mean campus creativity or NYC escapes, and brutal upstate winters test your resolve.
Photo Gallery
+35
+27
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Vassar’s seminar-style classrooms, where 80% of courses cap at 25 students and that 8:1 ratio means professors know your name from day one, you’ll dive into animated discussions that blur disciplines—think cognitive science labs dissecting human memory or theater productions doubling as Shakespeare seminars. The college shines in performing and visual arts, environmental studies, and neuroscience, with undergrads co-authoring papers in top journals thanks to ample research grants. You can expect hands-on thrills like curating at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center or stargazing through a 30-inch telescope, but the tradeoffs hit if you crave massive labs or pre-professional tracks: resources skew toward humanities and sciences over business or engineering.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
2,462 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
55%
Black / African American
4%
Hispanic / Latino
12%
Asian
12%
Other / Multi-racial
18%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Poughkeepsie, NY
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Vassar’s vibe pulses with artistic eccentricity—picture a typical week juggling morning Victorian lit seminars, afternoon improv rehearsals, evening a cappella sets at the Old Chapel, and spontaneous midnight snow sculptures during nor’easters. Residential life thrives in 11 dorms and nine co-ops, where you might live in the artist-run ACDC house blasting indie rock or the vegan Strong House debating ethics over communal dinners; 95% of students live on campus, fostering tight-knit bonds. Traditions like the Dairy (students milk cows for house-made ice cream) and the all-campus Pumpkin Parade infuse whimsy, while 150+ clubs span Quidditch to ultimate frisbee. Socially progressive and inclusive, it’s LGBTQ+-friendly with low Greek life, but the intense intellectualism can overwhelm introverts, and that isolated suburb means forging your own fun amid chilly, gray months.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Liberty League
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$10,697
$30K – $48K
$14,383
$48K – $75K
$23,695
$75K – $110K
$23,770
$110K+
$52,260
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
95%
4 Years Graduation Rate
88%
6 Years Graduation Rate
92%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$71,366
95% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Vassar College and return in the fall. 88% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 92% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
88%
4-6 years
4%
Non-grad
8%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$63,840
Acceptance
19%
Undergrads
2,462
4-Year Grad Rate
88%
Endowment
$1.1B
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604