Vassar College
- 4 Year
- POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
CollegeGrad School
Vassar College
- grade AOverall Grade
- 4 Year
- POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
- Rating 3.76 out of 5 673 reviews
Report Card
- Academicsgrade A+
- Valuegrade B
- Diversitygrade A
- Campusgrade B
- Athleticsgrade C+
- Party Scenegrade B minus
- Professorsgrade A+
- Locationgrade C+
- Dormsgrade B
- Campus Foodgrade B
- Student Lifegrade B+
- Safetygrade B minus
editorial
Vassar is a highly rated private college located in Poughkeepsie Town, New York. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 2,436 undergraduate students. Admissions is competitive as the Vassar acceptance rate is 19%. Popular majors include Economics, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Mathematics. Graduating 92% of students, Vassar alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $36,100.
Athletics Division
NCAA Division III (without football)
Athletics Conference
Liberty League
Vassar College Rankings
Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
Admissions
Application Deadline
January 1
Acceptance Rate
19%
Students also applied to ...
- grade A+
- grade A+
- grade A+
- grade A minus
- grade A+
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- grade A+
SAT Range
1430-1540
ACT Range
32-34
Application Fee
$65
SAT/ACT
Considered but not required
High School GPA
Considered but not required
Early Decision/Early Action
Yes
Accepts Common App
Yes
Application Website
Admissions Website
Will You Get In?
Will You Get Into Vassar?
Cost
Net Price
$30,603 / year
National
$15,523Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Average Total Aid Awarded
$50,193 / year
National
$7,535Students Receiving Financial Aid
64%
Scholarship
Academics
Professors
grade A+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
8:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
93%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes. 40 responses49%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want. 57 responses42%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage. 57 responsesMajors
Most Popular Majors
- Economics56 Graduates
- Research and Experimental Psychology53 Graduates
- Mathematics49 Graduates
- Political Science and Government46 Graduates
- Biology41 Graduates
- Information Science41 Graduates
- Communications29 Graduates
- English29 Graduates
- History29 Graduates
- Liberal Arts and Humanities29 Graduates
Online Academics
Offers Online Courses
No
Programs Offered Entirely Online
0
Online Certificate Programs
0
Online Associates Programs
0
Online Bachelor's Programs
0
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
2,436 Undergrads
Part-Time Undergrads
23
Undergrads Over 25
1%
Pell Grant
19%
Varsity Athletes
18%
Campus Life
Freshman Live On-Campus
98%
Day Care Services
Yes
Poll
98%
of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join. 44 responsesPoll
54%
of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life. 71 responses53%
of students highly rate the athletics/recreation facilities. 58 responses46%
of students highly rate the dining facilities. 59 responses86%
of students highly rate the performing arts facilities. 58 responsesAfter College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$54,600 / year
National
$33,028Graduation Rate
92%
National
49%Employed 2 Years After Graduation
93%
National
83%65%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation. 26 responsesSimilar Colleges
Colleges like Vassar College
Vassar College Reviews
Rating 3.76 out of 5 673 reviews
Vassar changed my life. I learned, for the first time, how to think critically, and how to write with clarity and meaning. I learned how to listen, because so many of my professors were brilliant, and took an interest in helping me to develop MY ideas, via writing, speaking, and taking chances outside the campus. More generally, the Students with whom I was friendly, and/or were fellow English majors, were eloquent, critical thinkers, who also had a sense of social responsibility, and spoke truth to power when needed. This is NOT a party school, although I remember some wild, fun and creative parties! It is most of all about relationships and relatedness. I am 64(!) and my 2 best friends in the Universe are my classmates from Vassar. One went on to become an academic at Berkeley, another a Ph.D. psychoanalyst.
I would absolutely not recommend going here! For reference, I majored in Biochemistry and am graduating this spring. Here are a few reasons:
- The research environment is toxic. Many of the professors demand a lot out of you, but are unwilling to act as a mentor. With the exception of one professor, I did not receive any support while applying to graduate school. I had to seek outside mentorship opportunities and had a much better experience doing research elsewhere (UCLA, Weill Cornell). There is no accountability for professors that act inappropriately.
- The social scene here is awful. Vassar is incredibly cliquey and it was difficult to make friends, as people mainly stuck to the friends they made freshman year. Many people here are very self-centered, immature, entitled, and judgmental. There is virtually nothing to do on campus most weekends. A lot of people pretend to be happy here, but many friend groups are toxic/many people are pretty depressed.
Bottom line: don't go here!
- The research environment is toxic. Many of the professors demand a lot out of you, but are unwilling to act as a mentor. With the exception of one professor, I did not receive any support while applying to graduate school. I had to seek outside mentorship opportunities and had a much better experience doing research elsewhere (UCLA, Weill Cornell). There is no accountability for professors that act inappropriately.
- The social scene here is awful. Vassar is incredibly cliquey and it was difficult to make friends, as people mainly stuck to the friends they made freshman year. Many people here are very self-centered, immature, entitled, and judgmental. There is virtually nothing to do on campus most weekends. A lot of people pretend to be happy here, but many friend groups are toxic/many people are pretty depressed.
Bottom line: don't go here!
Vassar is a vibrant and inclusive community, with a diverse cohort of students who are not just intellectually curious but also incredibly supportive. Dining hall, the Deece, offers a variety of food, and when time is of the essence, the Retreat and Express cafeterias provide quick and convenient dining solutions. Vassar's faculty members are approachable, nurturing, and genuinely invested in our success, they go above and beyond to ensure that each student reaches their full potential. With small class sizes averaging around 20-25 students, learning becomes an immersive experience. And let's not forget the invaluable opportunity to attend in-person office hours. There are a lot of opportunities at Vassar whether studying abroad, pursuing a dual degree program, or participating in clubs and events. With easy access via train, Vassar is just a two-hour drive away from New York City. So if you're seeking a small campus with big opportunities, look no further than Vassar College.