MIT vs. Vassar

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Vassar College 7:1.

MIT vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Vassar ($20,996 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 10.1% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,240 vs. $20,280).
  • Vassar College is 13.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $8,634 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.8% higher at Vassar than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $8,634 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Vassar College (59% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($61,734 vs. $57,443).

MIT vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 50 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
  • Incoming MIT 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT 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 MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

MIT vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Vassar College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $83,700 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $1,536 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($15,780 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($163 vs. $179).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIT students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 92%)

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.