HMC vs. Vassar

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vassar College is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Vassar College 7:1.

HMC vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC 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 Vassar College than HMC ($29,981 vs. $43,966).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 18.3% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($18,240 vs. $22,318).
• Vassar College is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HMC (about $2,417 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $68,613.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Vassar than at Harvey Mudd College (about $2,417 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $68,613.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Vassar College (64% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 24.3% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($57,443 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HMC 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 HMC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 40 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
• Incoming HMC 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: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Vassar College 1450/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Vassar College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Vassar (3.86).
• Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than HMC (12.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

HMC vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC 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 Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
• Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $26,500 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $9,760 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($15,780 vs. $25,540).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($163 vs. $264).

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.