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Compare Colgate University vs Vassar College

Hamilton, NY · Poughkeepsie, NY

Colgate UniversityVassar College
Cost
Price after aid (average)$28,786/yr$39,343/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$6,086/yr$15,953/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$15,000$18,625
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$2,678/yr$14,548/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$13,617/yr$14,126/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$21,831/yr$25,773/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$48,234/yr$56,615/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$159/mo$197/mo
Room & board (on campus)$17,610/yr$18,240/yr
Room & board (off campus)No data reported$18,740/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,570/yr$900/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,736/yr$1,350/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$87,070/yr$87,419/yr
Tuition (in-state)$70,306/yr$71,030/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$70,306/yr$71,030/yr
Students with Pell Grants13%19%
Students taking federal loans12%39%
Getting in
Students who get accepted14%19%
SAT range (middle 50%)1430–15401450–1550
SAT average15081494
ACT range (middle 50%)33–3433–35
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 34–35 · Math 30–34No data reported
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received21,13012,145
Students accepted2,5262,153
Students who enrolled807689
Accepted students who enroll32%32%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores21%26%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores18%13%
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate91%91%
Freshmen who come back93%95%
Typical earnings 10 years in$85,139/yr$71,366/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$56,075–$139,443$47,264–$105,378
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)92%93%
White students graduating92%91%
Black students graduating94%93%
Hispanic students graduating91%91%
Asian students graduating90%96%
Typical earnings 6 years in$64,949/yr$49,177/yr
Earn more than a HS grad87%82%
Graduate on time85%84%
Pell students who graduate94%92%
First-gen students who finish86%88%
Students who transfer out6.5%5%
Typical earnings 8 years in$74,696/yr$60,671/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 34% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 15% · Computer & Information Sciences 9%Social Sciences 22% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 18% · Visual & Performing Arts 10%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 34% of degreesSocial Sciences — 22% of degrees
2nd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 15% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 18% of degrees
3rd most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 9% of degreesVisual & Performing Arts — 10% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 8% of degreesPsychology — 7% of degrees
5th most popular programNatural Resources & Conservation — 6% of degreesEnglish Language & Literature — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Computer Science — $79,929/yrComputer and Information Sciences, General — $80,037/yr
Degrees in STEM31%32%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment3,1802,444
Students per professor9 : 17 : 1
Graduate students18No data reported
Average professor pay$13,098/mo$13,587/mo
Full-time professors93%85%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$76,732$71,194
SettingRural (distant)Suburb (large)
LocationHamilton, NYPoughkeepsie, NY
RegionMid EastMid East
Founded18191861
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences FocusBaccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students8.1%6.1%
Men43%38%
Women57%62%
White students64%54%
Black students4.3%3.8%
Hispanic or Latino students9.6%14%
Asian students5.3%12%
Two or more races6%8.1%
Other / not reported2.4%2.7%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students18%14%
Part-time students0.4%1.6%
Students age 25+0.2%1.3%
Spent on teaching per student$29,447/yr$34,689/yr
Endowment$1.3B$1.3B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,9582,455
Required to live on campusYes — for first-year studentsNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,108/yrNo data reported
Meal plan charge$8,682/yrNo data reported
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekNo data reportedVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoYes
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesNoNo
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoNo
Student veteran organizationNoYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planYesNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division III without football
Football teamYesNo
Varsity teams2125
Student athletes633453
Athletic scholarships$17.5M$0
Athletics budget$39.8M$6.2M
Athletics revenue$39.8M$6.4M
Recruiting spend$752,927$89,551

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.