Vassar vs. F&M

Deciding between Vassar College and Franklin and Marshall College? 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
Franklin and Marshall College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Vassar 2,462
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Vassar #46
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Vassar -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Vassar
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Vassar $18,240
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Vassar $29,981
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Vassar $57,443
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Vassar 55%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Vassar 12,447
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Vassar 2,311
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Vassar 1500
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Vassar 34
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Vassar 3.86
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Vassar A
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Vassar Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Vassar Very High
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Vassar 33/35
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Vassar Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Vassar 7:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Vassar 91%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Vassar $58,400
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Vassar 92%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Vassar $15,780
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Vassar $163
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Vassar 38%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Vassar 62%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Vassar High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Vassar No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Vassar 59%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Vassar 11%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Vassar 5%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Vassar 11%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Vassar 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Vassar 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Vassar 6%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Vassar 7%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Vassar 0%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Vassar 29%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Vassar 63%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Vassar College is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Vassar College 7:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Vassar vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar or F&M? 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 F&M ($29,981 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 11.2% lower than at Vassar College ($16,188 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than F&M (about $236 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $70,794.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Vassar than at Franklin and Marshall College (about $236 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $70,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Vassar College (80% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 37.1% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($57,443 vs. $41,901).

Vassar vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vassar or F&M? 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 F&M and Vassar.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 110 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Vassar vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar and F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $6,220 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($15,780 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($163 vs. $227).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former F&M students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 88%)

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.