Rutgers vs. Vassar

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Vassar 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Vassar College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Vassar College 7:1.

Rutgers vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Vassar? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Vassar ($20,522 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 13.8% lower than at Vassar College ($15,714 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 296.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $53,101 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 89.7% higher at Vassar than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $33,589 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (55% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 243.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($57,443 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 90 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Rutgers vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Vassar? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $6,435 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($15,780 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($163 vs. $229).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 68%)

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.