Carleton College vs. Vassar

Should I go to Carleton College or Vassar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Carleton College 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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Carleton College vs. Vassar College comparison
Carleton College Vassar College College 3 College 4
Carleton College Vassar College
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Overview

Carleton College Vassar
Location Northfield, MN Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,059 2,459
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #39 #47
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website carleton.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carleton College Vassar
Tuition (In State) $62,244 $63,840
Tuition (Out of State) $62,244 $63,840
Room & Board $15,990 $16,560
Avg Net Price $31,494 $30,603
Avg Grant Aid $46,821 $50,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 57%

Admission

Carleton College Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,583 11,412
Admitted 1,427 2,129
Acceptance Rate 16.6% 18.7%
Enrolled % 37.3% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.9 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 32/35 32/34
SAT Range 1430/1550 1430/1535
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Carleton College Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Physical Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

Carleton College Vassar
Graduation Rate 93% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,600 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $201 $163

Diversity

Carleton College Vassar
% Men 50% 38%
% Women 50% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 59%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 10% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Carleton College Vassar
% In-State 17% 24%
% Out-of-State 73% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Vassar College is larger than than Carleton College based on total student enrollment (2,459 students vs. 2,059 students)

Carleton College vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carleton College or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 2.6% more expensive to attend than Carleton College for in-state tuition ($63,840.00 vs. $62,244.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.6% higher at Vassar than Carleton College ($63,840.00 vs. $62,244.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than Carleton College ($30,603 vs. $31,494)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carleton College are 3.6% lower than costs at Vassar College ($15,990 vs. $16,560)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carleton College than Vassar College (60% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 7.2% larger than aid received Carleton College ($50,193 vs. $46,821)

Carleton College vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Vassar College (1405) is 5 points higher than at Carleton College (1400)
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Carleton College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Carleton College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Vassar (3.86)
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Carleton College (16.6%)

Carleton College vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carleton College 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 Carleton College.

  • The graduation rate at Carleton College is higher than Vassar College (93% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Carleton College earn on average $7,200 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($65,600 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $3,720 lower median federal student loan debt than Carleton College graduates. ($15,780 vs. $19,500)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Carleton College graduates. ($163 vs. $201)
  • More Carleton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vassar students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 92%)

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