AU vs. Vassar

Should I go to American University or Vassar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Vassar is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Vassar College comparison
American University Vassar College College 3 College 4
American University Vassar College
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Overview

AU Vassar
Location Washington, DC Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 2,459
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #47
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Vassar
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $63,840
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $63,840
Room & Board $15,706 $16,560
Avg Net Price $41,369 $30,603
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $50,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 57%

Admission

AU Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 11,412
Admitted 7,926 2,129
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 18.7%
Enrolled % 22.2% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/32 32/34
SAT Range 1290/1430 1430/1535
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

AU Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

AU Vassar
Graduation Rate 77% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $250 $163

Diversity

AU Vassar
% Men 37% 38%
% Women 63% 62%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 59%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 7% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

AU Vassar
% In-State 2% 24%
% Out-of-State 94% 69%

Campus

AU Vassar
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Vassar based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 2,459 students)

AU vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 20.3% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($63,840.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.3% higher at Vassar than American University ($63,840.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than AU ($30,603 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 5.4% lower than costs at Vassar College ($15,706 vs. $16,560)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Vassar College (66% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 85% larger than aid received American University ($50,193 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Vassar? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Vassar or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Vassar College (1405) is 153 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at AU (3.7)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Vassar (18.7%)

AU vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Vassar? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Vassar and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Vassar is higher than American University (91% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $6,400 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $8,470 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($15,780 vs. $24,250)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $87 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($163 vs. $250)
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/