Vassar vs. Bryn Mawr

Comparable Facts

Compare Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY with Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vassar College is larger than Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 1,679 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); Bryn Mawr College is in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bryn Mawr College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Vassar College 7:1; Bryn Mawr College 8:1.

Vassar vs. Bryn Mawr Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar or Bryn Mawr? 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 Vassar College than Bryn Mawr ($29,981 vs. $33,221).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 6% lower than at Bryn Mawr College ($18,240 vs. $19,400).
• Vassar College is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bryn Mawr (about $5,110 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,920.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at Vassar than at Bryn Mawr College (about $5,110 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,920.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at Vassar College (72% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 14.8% larger than aid received by Bryn Mawr College students ($57,443 vs. $50,029).

Vassar vs. Bryn Mawr Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 100 points higher than at Bryn Mawr (1400).
• Incoming Vassar students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Bryn Mawr).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Bryn Mawr College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; Bryn Mawr - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Bryn Mawr (3.85).
• Bryn Mawr has a higher acceptance rate (29.4%) than Vassar (18.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 31.5% at Bryn Mawr.

Vassar vs. Bryn Mawr Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar and Bryn Mawr? 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 Bryn Mawr College's (87%).
• Graduates from Bryn Mawr College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,500 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $10,220 lower median loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates ($15,780 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bryn Mawr graduates ($163 vs. $268).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bryn Mawr students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 79%)

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.