VCM vs. Hastings College

Should I go to VanderCook College of Music or Hastings College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VCM or Hastings College 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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VanderCook College of Music vs. Hastings College comparison
VanderCook College of Music Hastings College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 VCM Hastings College
Location Chicago, IL Hastings, NE
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 340 1,011
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #681
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vandercook.edu hastings.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 VCM Hastings College
Tuition (In State) $28,640 $33,950
Tuition (Out of State) $28,640 $33,950
Room & Board $7,500 $11,690
Avg Net Price $16,601 $21,821
Avg Grant Aid $22,249 $27,197
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 VCM Hastings College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 37 2,257
Admitted 36 1,577
Acceptance Rate 97.3% 69.9%
Enrolled % 47.2% 20.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/20 19/26
SAT Range 890/1160 960/1180
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 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 VCM Hastings College
Student to Faculty Ratio 4:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (100%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 VCM Hastings College
Graduation Rate 45% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $45,000
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

 VCM Hastings College
% Men 32% 1%
% Women 39% 1%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 80%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 21% 8%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 VCM Hastings College
% In-State 58% 50%
% Out-of-State 42% 47%

Campus

 VCM Hastings College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Hastings College is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (1,011 students vs. 340 students)

VCM vs. Hastings College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or Hastings College?

  • Hastings College is 18.5% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($33,950.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.5% higher at Hastings College than VanderCook College of Music ($33,950.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than Hastings College ($16,601 vs. $21,821)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 55.9% lower than costs at Hastings College ($7,500 vs. $11,690)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as Hastings College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hastings College students is 22.2% larger than aid received VanderCook College of Music ($27,197 vs. $22,249)

VCM vs. Hastings College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 52 points higher than at Hastings College (1055)
  • Incoming VCM students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Hastings College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Hastings College students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at VCM (3.1)
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Hastings College (69.9%)

VCM vs. Hastings College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCM or Hastings College? 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 Hastings College and VCM.

  • The graduation rate at Hastings College is higher than VanderCook College of Music (56% vs. 45%)
  • Hastings College and VCM graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Hastings College and VCM graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Hastings College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCM students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

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