Clarkson vs. Vassar

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

Clarkson Vassar
Location Potsdam, NY Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,719 2,459
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #220 #47
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarkson.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clarkson Vassar
Tuition (In State) $54,960 $63,840
Tuition (Out of State) $54,960 $63,840
Room & Board $16,744 $16,560
Avg Net Price $32,450 $30,603
Avg Grant Aid $41,285 $50,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 57%

Admission

Clarkson Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,594 11,412
Admitted 5,171 2,129
Acceptance Rate 78.4% 18.7%
Enrolled % 11.5% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Elite
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 25/30 32/34
SAT Range 1190/1370 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

Clarkson Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

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 64% 38%
% Women 36% 62%
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% 24%
% Out-of-State 31% 69%

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 (3,719 students vs. 2,459 students)

Clarkson vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 16.2% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($63,840.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.2% higher at Vassar than Clarkson University ($63,840.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than Clarkson ($30,603 vs. $32,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 1.1% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($16,560 vs. $16,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Vassar College (100% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 21.6% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($50,193 vs. $41,285)

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 (78.4%) than Vassar (18.7%)

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/