Vassar College

Vassar College's tuition is $73,275, but 68% of students receive financial aid, with the average total aid awarded being $53,840. The Princeton Review rated Vassar as having the best financial aid of all colleges and universities in the United States. Kiplinger's Personal Finance places Vassar 11th in its ranking of best value liberal arts colleges.

Vassar College's admissions process is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 18%. The college considers SAT/ACT scores, though they are not required, and also considers high school GPA. For the class of 2027, the middle 50% ranges for the SAT were 1450-1530 and 33-35 for the ACT.

Vassar College offers a distinctive liberal arts experience with a multidisciplinary approach to intellectual inquiry. The college emphasizes individual direction and study, independence, and self-responsibility. With a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of 17, Vassar ensures personalized attention and support from expert faculty members.

Vassar graduates enjoy strong post-graduation outcomes, with over half pursuing advanced study within five years. The college boasts high acceptance rates for its alumni applying to professional schools; 76% of Vassar seniors were accepted to medical school and 96% to law school in 2017. Graduates also have access to VassarNet, an online community of alumni, students, and faculty for networking and career opportunities.

Vassar College offers a vibrant and inclusive campus culture with a diverse student body. The college boasts a wide variety of student organizations, including clubs, sports teams, and student-run publications. While there is no strong Greek life, the campus hosts weekend events and parties, and New York City is accessible by train for additional nightlife.

Vassar College prioritizes safety and security on campus, with features like blue light emergency phones and student-run campus security at night. Students generally feel safe walking around campus, even at night. The college also has liberal policies to ensure student safety in social situations, such as a good Samaritan policy.

Vassar offers numerous opportunities for academic enrichment, including research projects and intensive summer research programs like the Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) and the Ford Scholars Program. Intensives are designed to promote forward-thinking, non-traditional class experiences that catalyze deeper learning. Students can engage in research and make contributions to their field as early as their first year.

Vassar College welcomes international students, who make up 8-10% of the student body. The college offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students. Vassar strives to create a space that is inclusive of all perspectives and backgrounds through their philosophy of engaged pluralism.