Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Vassar

Should I go to Hobart William Smith Colleges or Vassar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Hobart William Smith Colleges 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Hamilton College Colgate Skidmore College Haverford College Tufts Barnard NYU Middlebury Amherst Wellesley Swarthmore Colby College
Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Vassar College comparison
Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar College College 3 College 4
Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
Location Geneva, NY Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,669 2,456
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #133 #46
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hws.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
Tuition (In State) $61,858 $66,870
Tuition (Out of State) $61,858 $66,870
Room & Board $17,334 $17,415
Avg Net Price $33,172 $29,733
Avg Grant Aid $47,463 $53,840
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 58%

Admission

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,560 12,145
Admitted 3,185 2,153
Acceptance Rate 57.3% 17.7%
Enrolled % 14.5% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.55 3.86
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 26/32 33/35
SAT Range 1220/1360 1435/1550
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 Feb 1, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
Graduation Rate 75% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,200 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $279 $163

Diversity

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
% Men 1% 0%
% Women 2% 1%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 59%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 6%
% International 6% 7%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
% In-State 41% 28%
% Out-of-State 55% 64%

Campus

Hobart William Smith Colleges Vassar
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Vassar College is larger than than Hobart William Smith Colleges based on total student enrollment (2,456 students vs. 1,669 students)

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hobart William Smith Colleges or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 8.1% more expensive to attend than Hobart William Smith Colleges for in-state tuition ($66,870.00 vs. $61,858.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.1% higher at Vassar than Hobart William Smith Colleges ($66,870.00 vs. $61,858.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than Hobart William Smith Colleges ($29,733 vs. $33,172)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hobart William Smith Colleges are 0.5% lower than costs at Vassar College ($17,334 vs. $17,415)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hobart William Smith Colleges than Vassar College (99% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 13.4% larger than aid received Hobart William Smith Colleges ($53,840 vs. $47,463)

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Hobart William Smith Colleges (3.55)
  • Hobart William Smith Colleges has a higher acceptance rate (57.3%) than Vassar (17.7%)

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges.

  • The graduation rate at Vassar is higher than Hobart William Smith Colleges (91% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Hobart William Smith Colleges earn on average $1,800 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($60,200 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $11,220 lower median federal student loan debt than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates. ($15,780 vs. $27,000)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $116 less per month on federal student loans than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates. ($163 vs. $279)
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hobart William Smith Colleges students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 84%)

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