Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York · Private Nonprofit · 18.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 73/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Vassar scores 73 (Fair Value). The completion rate of 91.1% is solid and the 95.4% repayment rate is the school's highest sub-score, suggesting graduates who do borrow are managing their debt without significant distress. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.473 is the central problem: median debt of $18,625 against $39,400 in average 6-year earnings is a strained ratio. The honest explanation is that Vassar graduates route heavily into graduate school and lower-earnings early career paths - arts, humanities, social sciences, and non-profit adjacent fields dominate the program mix. Economics (59 graduates, $79,845 at one year) and Computer and Information Sciences (31 graduates, $80,037 at one year) both report first-year earnings, but these programs are small relative to the broader enrollment. Vassar's value case rests on graduate school placement, alumni network depth in arts and media, and the academic quality of the liberal arts program - factors that Scorecard data systematically undervalues.
Vassar College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $71,030/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $71,030/yr |
| Average net price | $39,343/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $157,372 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,366 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,625 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $197 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,444 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $71,030/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $39,343/year, or roughly $157,372 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,953/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $56,615/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,625, which works out to about $197 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,400) and comes to 0.47, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,953 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,548 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,126 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,773 |
| $110,001+ | $56,615 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average of $15,953 per year at Vassar. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $14,548. Over four years, a family in the lowest bracket faces roughly $64,000 in net costs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $48,001-$75,000 range pay an average of $14,126 per year - marginally lower than the lower bracket, which is unusual and may reflect specific aid structures at this income level. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket rises to $25,773.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay an average of $56,615 per year. Over four years, that totals roughly $226,000. At that cost, Vassar's 8.2-year payback period and $39,400 average 6-year earnings create a difficult financial case without a specific major plan. Economics and CIS graduates paying this net price can expect a shorter payback; humanities, arts, and social science graduates on a graduate school path are likely to carry the investment for many years. High-income families should model the specific program, not the school-level average.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Vassar College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $102,584 | A |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $65,095 | C |
| Mathematics | $52,085 | B |
| Biology | $45,359 | C+ |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $45,599 | - |
| International Relations | $69,942 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $60,461 | D |
| Romance Languages | $54,839 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $124,469 | A |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $63,591 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS at Vassar produces 31 graduates per year - a small cohort - with $80,037 median earnings at one year and $124,469 at four years. The CIS program is small enough that students get close faculty access and research integration.
Economics
Economics is Vassar's largest program with 59 graduates per year, $79,845 median earnings at one year, and $102,584 at four years.
Mathematics
Mathematics graduates 43 students per year with $52,085 median earnings at one year. Median debt is $19,000 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.365 earns an ROI grade of B. No four-year earnings figure is available in the dataset. The one-year figure is moderate and likely reflects a mix of graduates entering financial analysis, actuarial, and data roles alongside those continuing to graduate programs in mathematics or statistics. Mathematics at Vassar has a small, research-engaged faculty and provides strong preparation for graduate work. Students using this major primarily as a pipeline to quantitative finance or data science should consider whether the Vassar brand carries enough weight in those specific hiring pools to justify the premium over more career-oriented programs.
International Relations
International Relations graduates 38 students per year with $48,679 median earnings at one year and $69,942 at four years. Median debt is $17,500 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.359 earns an ROI grade of B. The one-year earnings are modest and consistent with graduates entering entry-level government, nonprofit, and policy analysis positions. Many IR graduates at Vassar continue to graduate programs in international affairs or law school, so the data captures a mix of early-career earners and students mid-graduate program.
Biology
Biology graduates 42 students per year with $37,802 at one year and $45,359 at four years. Median debt is $19,000 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.503 earns a C+ grade. The one-year earnings reflect heavy graduate and medical school routing - a large share of Vassar biology graduates are in professional programs at the one-year mark. The four-year figure of $45,359 is low and likely still captures graduates completing PhD or medical programs rather than mid-career professionals. The C+ grade reflects the data as-captured and should not be read as a statement about eventual outcomes for students completing medical school or research doctorates. Families evaluating the cost of a Vassar biology degree against expected long-term earnings for a physician or research scientist should use 15-20 year projections rather than the 6-year Scorecard figure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 91.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 95.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 92.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 94.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Vassar College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 18.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 720-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 2,444 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,587 |
Vassar admits 18.57% of applicants. SAT 720-780 Math and 730-770 Reading are the mid-ranges; ACT 33-35 is consistent with the range. The holistic evaluation emphasizes intellectual engagement, writing quality, and fit with the liberal arts mission. Vassar offers binding early decision with a materially higher acceptance rate in that round - students with genuine first-choice commitment should apply early.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vassar College (this school) | 73 | $39,343 | $71,366 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Smith College | 73 | $27,579 | $64,027 |
| Colorado College | 70 | $33,375 | $65,222 |
| Denison University | 60 | $40,007 | $67,753 |
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster in the SAT 720-780 Math and 730-770 Reading range; ACT 33-35 composite. Vassar's admission rate is 18.57%. Pell Grant participation is 19.2%. The school is co-educational but historically known for its progressive arts and humanities culture - students who fit here are drawn to that identity.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Vassar College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $39,343 a year after aid ($157,372 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $71,366 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 91.1% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $18,625 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Vassar College: Common Questions
Is Vassar College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Vassar College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 73/100 on our ROI scale. At $39,343 a year after aid ($157,372 over four years) against $71,366 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Vassar College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $39,343 a year, or roughly $157,372 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Vassar College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,366 ten years after enrolling, roughly $29,566 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Vassar College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.2 years for Vassar College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Vassar College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,625, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Vassar College?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.