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Hamilton College Colgate Skidmore College Haverford College Tufts RIT Barnard NYU Middlebury Amherst Wellesley Swarthmore| Clarkson University | Vassar College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | Poughkeepsie, NY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,603 | 2,456 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #183 | #46 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | vassar.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,642 | $66,870 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,642 | $66,870 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,016 | $17,415 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,192 | $29,733 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,097 | $53,840 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 58% |
Admission |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,347 | 12,145 | ||
| Admitted | 5,669 | 2,153 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.2% | 17.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.7% | 32% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.86 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 33/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1198/1390 | 1435/1550 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $58,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $15,780 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $163 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 6% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 28% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 64% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | Vassar | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Clarkson University is larger than than Vassar based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 2,456 students)
Clarkson vs. Vassar Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Vassar?
- Vassar College is 18.1% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($66,870.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.1% higher at Vassar than Clarkson University ($66,870.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than Clarkson ($29,733 vs. $33,192)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 2.3% lower than costs at Vassar College ($17,016 vs. $17,415)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Vassar College (100% vs. 58%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 24.9% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($53,840 vs. $43,097)
Clarkson vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Vassar? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Vassar or Clarkson .
- The average SAT score at Vassar College (1405) is 207 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
- Incoming Vassar students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Clarkson (27)
- Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Clarkson (3.8)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Vassar (17.7%)
Clarkson vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clarkson 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 Clarkson.
- The graduation rate at Vassar is higher than Clarkson University (91% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $12,400 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $58,400)
- Vassar College students graduate with a $11,220 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($15,780 vs. $27,000)
- Vassar graduates are paying $116 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($163 vs. $279)
- More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/