Harvard vs. Vassar

Deciding between Harvard University 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.

Harvard University
Vassar College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Harvard vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Vassar ($17,525 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 13.9% lower than at Harvard University ($18,240 vs. $21,190).
  • Vassar College is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $9,354 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.2% higher at Vassar than at Harvard University (about $9,354 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Vassar College (56% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 18.4% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($68,015 vs. $57,443).

Harvard vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 50 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Vassar).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Vassar (3.86).
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Harvard vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Vassar College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $78,300 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $9,280 lower median loan debt than Vassar graduates ($6,500 vs. $15,780).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vassar graduates ($67 vs. $163).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

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.