Vassar vs. Lafayette College

Comparable Facts

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

Lafayette College is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (2,775 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); Lafayette College is in Easton, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lafayette College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Vassar College 7:1; Lafayette College 10:1.

Vassar vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar or Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College ($29,981 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 8.2% lower than at Lafayette College ($18,240 vs. $19,866).
• Vassar College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lafayette College (about $5,632 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at Vassar than at Lafayette College (about $5,632 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at Vassar College (61% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 28.5% larger than aid received by Lafayette College students ($57,443 vs. $44,707).

Vassar vs. Lafayette College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 70 points higher than at Lafayette College (1430).
• Incoming Vassar students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Lafayette College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Lafayette College 1350/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Lafayette College 31/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; Lafayette College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
• Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (31.4%) than Vassar (18.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 21.8% at Lafayette College.

Vassar vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar and Lafayette College? 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 Lafayette College's (88%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $22,600 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 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 Lafayette College graduates ($15,780 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($163 vs. $268).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lafayette College 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.