UB vs. Vassar

Deciding between University at Buffalo 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.

University at Buffalo
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University at Buffalo is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; Vassar College 7:1.

UB vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB 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 University at Buffalo than Vassar ($20,529 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 4.5% lower than at Vassar College ($17,426 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 549.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $60,094 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 125.2% higher at Vassar than at University at Buffalo (about $39,494 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Vassar College (76% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 438.7% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($57,443 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UB 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 UB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 200 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

UB vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates of University at Buffalo and Vassar have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $58,400), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $3,720 lower median loan debt than UB graduates ($15,780 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UB graduates ($163 vs. $201).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

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.