BU vs. Vassar

Deciding between Boston University 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.

Boston University
Vassar College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 Boston University than Vassar ($24,420 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 4.1% lower than at Boston University ($18,240 vs. $19,020).
  • Vassar College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $2,928 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Vassar than at Boston University (about $2,928 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at Boston University (55% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($61,848 vs. $57,443).

BU vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 20 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

BU vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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).

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $11,220 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($15,780 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($163 vs. $279).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 82%)

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.