Vassar College vs Hillsdale College

Vassar College and Hillsdale College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, stand apart in their unique offerings and distinct academic environments. Vassar, a liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on interdisciplinary studies, while Hillsdale, a private liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan, emphasizes a classical education rooted in the Western tradition. With acceptance rates of 28% and 48%, respectively, both colleges offer a rigorous and challenging academic experience. While Vassar students commonly pursue majors in the social sciences, arts, and humanities, Hillsdale students often gravitate towards majors in the natural sciences, business, and pre-professional programs. Discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences by exploring the comprehensive comparison table below.
Hillsdale College logo

Hillsdale College

Vassar College logo

Vassar College

Overview

Location Hillsdale, Michigan Poughkeepsie, New York
Campus setting Town: Distant Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 95.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Undenominational

Admission

Acceptance rate 23.7% 20.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $25
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1340 - 1510 1420 - 1540
ACT range 30 - 34 32 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 22.0% 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 38.0% 20.0%
Total number of applicants 2,994 10,884
Total number of admissions given out 709 2,193
Admitted students who chose to enroll 397 679
Yield rate 56.0% 31.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $45,382 $81,330
Average net price $24,057 $27,249
Tuition $28,730 $61,940
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,020

Meal plan: $6,120
$15,710
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $20,535
57.0%
Average amount $49,162
Students receiving federal student loan 0.0%
Average amount $0
46.0%
Average amount $3,729
Students taking out private loans 34.0%
Average amount $10,497
4.0%
Average amount $14,435

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,515
Men 50.6% Women 49.4%
2,516
Men 38.4% Women 61.6%
Graduate students 87
Men 67.8% Women 32.2%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity N/A
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students N/A 8.4%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,124 2,448
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Social Sciences
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 87.6% 92.5%
Dropout rate 8.3% 5.6%
Transferred out 3.9% 2.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) N/A
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,930
  • Year 2: $69,535
  • Year 3: $93,622
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,665
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $66,026
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,871
  • Year 2: $49,683
  • Year 3: $59,758
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,233
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $45,366
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,929
  • Year 2: $31,670
  • Year 3: $43,616
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $40,086
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,522
  • Year 2: $35,600
  • Year 3: $38,666
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,708
  • Year 3: $38,274
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,008
  • Year 2: $28,236
  • Year 3: $36,733
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,175
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $35,465

Compare Similar Colleges

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