Hunter vs. Vassar

Deciding between CUNY Hunter College and Vassar College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

CUNY Hunter College
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Hunter Yes
  • Vassar Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Hunter No
  • Vassar No
  • Meal Plan
  • Hunter No
  • Vassar Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Hunter No
  • Vassar No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Hunter Yes
  • Vassar Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Hunter vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter or Vassar? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Hunter College than Vassar ($4,431 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 35.1% lower than at Vassar College ($11,832 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 862.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $63,648 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 363.3% higher at Vassar than at CUNY Hunter College (about $55,698 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Vassar College (87% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 488.9% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($57,443 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter or Vassar? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Vassar and Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 240 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Hunter vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter and Vassar? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Vassar College earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $4,232 lower median loan debt than Vassar graduates ($11,548 vs. $15,780).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vassar graduates ($119 vs. $163).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.