Columbia vs. Vassar

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

Columbia Vassar
Location New York, NY Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 34,782 2,459
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #47
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia Vassar
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $63,840
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $63,840
Room & Board $16,286 $16,560
Avg Net Price $22,058 $30,603
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $50,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 57%

Admission

Columbia Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 11,412
Admitted 2,404 2,129
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 18.7%
Enrolled % 64.1% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/35 32/34
SAT Range 1490/1580 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 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

Columbia Vassar
Graduation Rate 93% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $222 $163

Diversity

Columbia Vassar
% Men 46% 38%
% Women 54% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 59%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 13% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 15% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Columbia Vassar
% In-State 19% 24%
% Out-of-State 64% 69%

Campus

Columbia 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

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Vassar based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 2,459 students)

Columbia vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 2% more expensive to attend than Columbia for in-state tuition ($63,840.00 vs. $62,570.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2% higher at Vassar than Columbia University in the City of New York ($63,840.00 vs. $62,570.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Vassar ($22,058 vs. $30,603)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 1.7% lower than costs at Vassar College ($16,286 vs. $16,560)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Vassar College than Columbia University in the City of New York (57% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 21.7% larger than aid received Vassar College ($61,061 vs. $50,193)

Columbia vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 68 points higher than at Vassar (1405)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Vassar (32)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Vassar (3.86)
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia 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 Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Vassar College (93% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $49,200 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $5,720 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($15,780 vs. $21,500)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($163 vs. $222)
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 76%)

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