Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large suburb

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, New York. 2,444 undergraduates. Admits 19% of applicants.

New York colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
89%Graduation rate34 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$36,924Average net price per year86% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$75,532Median earnings 10 years after starting28% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$19,000Median debt at graduation12% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,000) equals 25% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($75,532).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$19,674
$30,000–$48,000$10,022
$48,001–$75,000$13,428
$75,001–$110,000$17,576
Over $110,000$50,834

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $74,265.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate89%54%
Return for second year95%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$58,024$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$75,532$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

41 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer and Information Sciences, General42$94,900$136,808$19,000
Economics53$82,527$114,836$18,798
Political Science and Government34$52,965$78,223$16,770
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics18$38,994$77,932—
Biology, General36$37,216$73,443$19,000
Communication and Media Studies19$31,715$70,865—
Mathematics45$64,870—$18,580
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities0—$62,685—
Cognitive Science18$60,408——
International Relations and National Security Studies24$42,602$59,465$18,750
Research and Experimental Psychology47$44,745$58,361$15,830
Urban Studies/Affairs9$24,616$58,239—
English Language and Literature, General31$38,425$58,217$18,500
Film/Video and Photographic Arts21$39,220$57,445$19,000
History15$51,621——
Area Studies13$51,187——
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology41$48,717—$18,009
Fine and Studio Arts23$40,754——
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft23—$38,720—
Sociology11$37,136——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research20$36,886—$19,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies5———
Education, General9———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics14———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics8———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Neurobiology and Neurosciences32——$19,000
Medieval and Renaissance Studies1———
Science, Technology and Society22———
Classical and Ancient Studies3———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other3———
Philosophy7———
Religion/Religious Studies3———
Astronomy and Astrophysics2———
Chemistry7———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences8———
Physics18——$18,961
Anthropology7———
Geography and Cartography7———
Social Sciences, Other1———
Music6———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

19%Admission rate
1,494Average SAT of admitted students
33–35ACT middle 50%
7:1Students per faculty member
24%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in New York

New York UniversityNew York · net price $35,737 · grad rate 88%University of RochesterRochester · net price $34,347 · grad rate 83%Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester · net price $37,405 · grad rate 70%Cornell UniversityIthaca · net price $33,934 · grad rate 95%Sarah Lawrence CollegeBronxville · net price $37,096 · grad rate 66%The Juilliard SchoolNew York · net price $41,799 · grad rate 91%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Vassar College cost per year?
The average net price at Vassar College, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $36,924 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Vassar College graduates earn?
Former Vassar College students earn a median of $75,532 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Vassar College?
89% of Vassar College students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Vassar College graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Vassar College is $19,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.