Vassar vs. Brown

Deciding between Vassar College and Brown University? 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.

Vassar College
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Vassar #46
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Vassar -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Vassar
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Vassar $57,443
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Vassar 55%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Vassar 1500
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Vassar 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Vassar A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Vassar Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Vassar Very High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Vassar 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Vassar 91%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Vassar 92%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Vassar $163
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Vassar 38%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Vassar 62%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Vassar High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Vassar No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Vassar 59%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Vassar 11%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Vassar 5%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Vassar 11%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Vassar 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Vassar 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Vassar 6%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Vassar 7%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Vassar 0%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Vassar 29%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Vassar 63%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Vassar College 7:1; Brown University 6:1.

Vassar vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar or Brown? 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 Brown University than Vassar ($26,256 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 4.4% lower than at Vassar College ($17,444 vs. $18,240).
  • Brown University is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Vassar (about $382 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $71,030.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Brown than at Vassar College (about $382 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $71,030.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at Brown University (55% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($61,392 vs. $57,443).

Vassar vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vassar or Brown? 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 Brown and Vassar.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 50 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
  • Incoming Vassar students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Vassar (3.86).
  • Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Vassar vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Vassar College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $29,200 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $780 lower median loan debt than Vassar graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,780).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vassar graduates ($155 vs. $163).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brown students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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.