Amherst vs. Vassar

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vassar College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Amherst vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Vassar? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Vassar ($19,049 vs. $29,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 0.8% lower than at Amherst College ($18,240 vs. $18,390).
• Vassar College is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Amherst (about $550 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Vassar than at Amherst College (about $550 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $70,480.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Vassar College (59% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 19.4% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($68,591 vs. $57,443).

Amherst vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Vassar? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Vassar and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 40 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
• Incoming Amherst students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Vassar (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Vassar College 1450/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Vassar College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Vassar (3.86).
• Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Amherst vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Vassar? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Vassar College's (91%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $23,600 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $2,805 lower median loan debt than Vassar graduates ($12,975 vs. $15,780).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vassar graduates ($134 vs. $163).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.