Caltech vs. Vassar

Should I go to California Institute of Technology or Vassar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Caltech or Vassar is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Institute of Technology vs. Vassar College comparison
California Institute of Technology Vassar College College 3 College 4
California Institute of Technology Vassar College
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Overview

Caltech Vassar
Location Pasadena, CA Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,401 2,459
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #5 #47
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website caltech.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Caltech Vassar
Tuition (In State) $58,479 $63,840
Tuition (Out of State) $58,479 $63,840
Room & Board $18,606 $16,560
Avg Net Price $20,755 $30,603
Avg Grant Aid $59,192 $50,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 57%

Admission

Caltech Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,626 11,412
Admitted 448 2,129
Acceptance Rate 2.7% 18.7%
Enrolled % 50% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 35/36 32/34
SAT Range 1530/1580 1430/1535
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 3, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Caltech Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 3:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (41%)
  • Physical Sciences (25%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
  • Mathematics (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

Caltech Vassar
Graduation Rate 87% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,800 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments - 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,350 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $148 $163

Diversity

Caltech Vassar
% Men 61% 38%
% Women 39% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 59%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 8% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Caltech Vassar
% In-State 29% 24%
% Out-of-State 58% 69%

Campus

Caltech Vassar
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Vassar College is larger than than Caltech based on total student enrollment (2,459 students vs. 2,401 students)

Caltech vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caltech or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 9.2% more expensive to attend than Caltech for in-state tuition ($63,840.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.2% higher at Vassar than California Institute of Technology ($63,840.00 vs. $58,479.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Institute of Technology than Vassar ($20,755 vs. $30,603)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 12.4% lower than costs at California Institute of Technology ($16,560 vs. $18,606)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at California Institute of Technology as Vassar College (57% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of Technology students is 17.9% larger than aid received Vassar College ($59,192 vs. $50,193)

Caltech vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Caltech or Vassar? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Vassar or Caltech .

  • The average SAT score at California Institute of Technology (1544) is 139 points higher than at Vassar (1405)
  • Incoming Caltech students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (35) than students at Vassar (32)
  • Accepted freshman Caltech students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Vassar (3.86)
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Caltech (2.7%)

Caltech vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Caltech or Vassar? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Vassar and Caltech.

  • The graduation rate at Vassar is higher than California Institute of Technology (91% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from California Institute of Technology earn on average $27,400 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($85,800 vs. $58,400)
  • California Institute of Technology students graduate with a $1,430 lower median federal student loan debt than Vassar graduates. ($14,350 vs. $15,780)
  • Caltech graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Vassar graduates. ($148 vs. $163)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/