Barnard vs. Vassar

Deciding between Barnard College and Vassar College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Barnard College
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Barnard Yes
  • Vassar Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Barnard No
  • Vassar No
  • Meal Plan
  • Barnard Yes
  • Vassar Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Barnard No
  • Vassar No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Barnard No
  • Vassar Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Barnard College is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Barnard vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard College than Vassar ($26,407 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 16% lower than at Barnard College ($18,240 vs. $21,714).
  • Vassar College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Barnard (about $1,142 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $69,888.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Vassar than at Barnard College (about $1,142 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $69,888.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at Barnard College (55% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 9.9% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($63,131 vs. $57,443).

Barnard vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 20 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Barnard vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Vassar College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $2,067 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($15,780 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($163 vs. $184).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Barnard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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.