Vassar vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Vassar College 7:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Vassar vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon ($29,981 vs. $35,552).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 0.4% lower than at Vassar College ($18,166 vs. $18,240).
• Vassar College is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $4,784 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at Vassar than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $4,784 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at Carnegie Mellon University (55% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 19.4% larger than aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students ($57,443 vs. $48,107).

Vassar vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 40 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
• Incoming Vassar students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Carnegie Mellon (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Vassar (3.86).
• Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Vassar vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar and Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon University's (87%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $44,300 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $10,470 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($15,780 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($163 vs. $271).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carnegie Mellon students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 91%)

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.