NYU vs. Vassar

Deciding between New York 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.

New York University
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 42%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • NYU 58%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

NYU vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 NYU ($29,981 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 22.5% lower than at New York University ($18,240 vs. $23,530).
  • Vassar College is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $8,234 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at Vassar than at New York University (about $8,234 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at New York University (55% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 6.6% larger than aid received by New York University students ($57,443 vs. $53,901).

NYU vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 20 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
  • Incoming NYU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Vassar (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

NYU vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $17,600 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $7,470 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($15,780 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($163 vs. $240).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.