Vassar vs. Davidson

Comparable Facts

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

Vassar College is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 1,869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Vassar vs. Davidson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar or Davidson? 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 Davidson College than Vassar ($27,720 vs. $29,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 6.2% lower than at Vassar College ($17,100 vs. $18,240).
• Vassar College is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $6,620 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at Vassar than at Davidson College (about $6,620 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Vassar College (65% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 11% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($57,443 vs. $51,755).

Vassar vs. Davidson Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 30 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
• Incoming Vassar students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Davidson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Davidson College 1400/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Davidson College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; Davidson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; Davidson Jan 7, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Davidson (13.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 47.9% at Davidson.

Vassar vs. Davidson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar and Davidson? 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).

• Davidson College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Vassar College's (91%).
• Graduates from Davidson College earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($63,500 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $1,220 lower median loan debt than Davidson graduates ($15,780 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Davidson graduates ($163 vs. $175).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Davidson 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.