Vassar vs. William & Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Vassar College 7:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Vassar vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary than Vassar ($19,686 vs. $29,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William & Mary are 11.3% lower than at Vassar College ($16,182 vs. $18,240).
• Vassar College is 174.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than William & Mary (about $45,116 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $25,914.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.2% higher at Vassar than at William & Mary (about $19,992 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at William & Mary (55% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 148.2% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($57,443 vs. $23,144).

Vassar vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vassar or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Vassar.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 30 points higher than at William & Mary (1470).
• Incoming Vassar students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at William & Mary).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; William & Mary 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; William & Mary 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
• William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Vassar (18.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Vassar vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar and William & Mary? 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).

• The graduation rate at Vassar is the same as at William & Mary (91% vs. 91%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $3,720 lower median loan debt than William & Mary graduates ($15,780 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than William & Mary graduates ($163 vs. $201).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William & Mary students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 85%)

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.