UMass vs. Vassar

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 of Massachusetts Amherst
Vassar College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Vassar College 7:1.

UMass vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 of Massachusetts Amherst than Vassar ($22,948 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 8.4% lower than at Vassar College ($16,710 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 299.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $53,258 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.6% higher at Vassar than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $30,581 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Vassar College (81% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 338.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($57,443 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 90 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Vassar (3.86).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

UMass vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Vassar College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $8,220 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($15,780 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($163 vs. $248).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 76%)

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.