Dartmouth vs. Vassar

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dartmouth College is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Dartmouth vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth College than Vassar ($20,322 vs. $29,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 8.8% lower than at Dartmouth College ($18,240 vs. $19,999).
• Vassar College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dartmouth (about $2,762 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at Vassar than at Dartmouth College (about $2,762 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $68,268.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at Dartmouth College (55% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 17.5% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($67,471 vs. $57,443).

Dartmouth vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 40 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Vassar (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Vassar College 1450/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Vassar College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Vassar - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dartmouth 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 (18.6%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Dartmouth vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth 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).

• Dartmouth College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Vassar College's (91%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $45,600 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $2,319 lower median loan debt than Vassar graduates ($13,461 vs. $15,780).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vassar graduates ($139 vs. $163).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

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.