Syracuse vs. Vassar

Should I go to Syracuse University or Vassar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Syracuse 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.
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Syracuse University vs. Vassar College comparison
Syracuse University Vassar College College 3 College 4
Syracuse University Vassar College
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Overview

 Syracuse Vassar
Location Syracuse, NY Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 22,948 2,456
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #160 #46
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website syr.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Syracuse Vassar
Tuition (In State) $61,310 $66,870
Tuition (Out of State) $61,310 $66,870
Room & Board $18,444 $17,415
Avg Net Price $51,520 $29,733
Avg Grant Aid $29,110 $53,840
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 58%

Admission

 Syracuse Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 42,089 12,145
Admitted 17,545 2,153
Acceptance Rate 41.7% 17.7%
Enrolled % 20.9% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.86
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 28/32 33/35
SAT Range 1260/1430 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 Jan 1, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

 Syracuse Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Communication (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

 Syracuse Vassar
Graduation Rate 80% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,900 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $279 $163

Diversity

 Syracuse Vassar
% Men 14% 0%
% Women 17% 1%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 59%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 11%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 12% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Syracuse Vassar
% In-State 32% 28%
% Out-of-State 57% 64%

Campus

 Syracuse Vassar
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Syracuse University is larger than than Vassar based on total student enrollment (22,948 students vs. 2,456 students)

Syracuse vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 9.1% more expensive to attend than Syracuse for in-state tuition ($66,870.00 vs. $61,310.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.1% higher at Vassar than Syracuse University ($66,870.00 vs. $61,310.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than Syracuse ($29,733 vs. $51,520)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 5.9% lower than costs at Syracuse University ($17,415 vs. $18,444)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Syracuse University than Vassar College (82% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 85% larger than aid received Syracuse University ($53,840 vs. $29,110)

Syracuse vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Vassar College (1405) is 210 points higher than at Syracuse (1195)
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Syracuse (27)
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Syracuse (3.69)
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (41.7%) than Vassar (17.7%)

Syracuse vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Syracuse 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 Syracuse.

  • The graduation rate at Vassar is higher than Syracuse University (91% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn on average $7,500 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($65,900 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $11,220 lower median federal student loan debt than Syracuse graduates. ($15,780 vs. $27,000)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $116 less per month on federal student loans than Syracuse graduates. ($163 vs. $279)
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 80%)

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