MHC vs. Vassar

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vassar College is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Vassar College 7:1.

MHC vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 MHC ($29,981 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 7.3% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($18,240 vs. $19,684).
  • Vassar College is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $4,012 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Vassar than at Mount Holyoke College (about $4,012 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Vassar College (77% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($57,443 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 40 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Vassar (3.86).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

MHC vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Vassar College earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $5,426 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($15,780 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($163 vs. $219).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 77%)

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.