Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Vassar College #1169 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,617 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Vassar College in the 10.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Vassar College #958 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Vassar College's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across access, mobility, and return on investment. Graduates see meaningful earnings advantages that place the institution among the top performers nationally.
Azimuth ranks Vassar College #1169 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Poughkeepsie, NY, Vassar College enrolls roughly 2,444 undergraduates. Retention is 94.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 91.1%, placing the institution among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Vassar College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Vassar College #958 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,617 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Vassar College in the 10.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects Vassar College's liberal arts foundation and concentration in Social Sciences, fields that support graduates into careers with sustained upward mobility. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Vassar College sits in the 67.9 percentile for access and the 8.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. These positions reflect the institution's selective admissions posture and higher sticker price, typical of residential liberal arts colleges. Mobility outcomes remain strong at the 35.4 percentile, indicating that despite limited access, graduates who enroll move into stable, well-compensated careers at rates that exceed comparable institutions.
Western New England University's published cost of attendance is $87,419. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $15,953, middle-income families pay around $14,126, and higher-income families pay approximately $56,615. Azimuth ranks Vassar College #1302 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,625, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,501; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,818, median federal debt of $18,625 projects to a monthly payment of about $210 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $46,018 would shift the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Vassar College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in NY. Its program mix leans toward Social Sciences, which represents 22% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,818, placing Vassar College in the 51.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $15,617 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Vassar College in the 10.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. Approximately 19.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 14.2% are first-generation students, reflecting Vassar College's commitment to access. Published cost of attendance is $56,615, and typical federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,625. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 18.6% admit rate makes the application process highly selective, and the program mix favors liberal arts fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Vassar College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Western New England University's published cost of attendance is $87,419. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $15,953, middle-income families pay around $14,126, and higher-income families pay approximately $56,615.
Azimuth ranks Vassar College #1302 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,625, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,501; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,818, median federal debt of $18,625 projects to a monthly payment of about $210 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $46,018 would shift the real affordability picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Vassar College earn median 4-year earnings of $61,818, placing Vassar College in the 51.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,617 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Vassar College in the 10.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Vassar College #958 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Vassar College's strength in analytical and social-science fields.
Economics is the largest program with 56 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $102,584, at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Research Psychology program graduates 53 students earning median 4-year earnings of $65,095, at 1.2x the national benchmark.
Political Science and Artificial Intelligence round out the top programs, with 46 and 41 graduates respectively, earning median 4-year earnings of $69,942 and $124,469. The concentration in Social Sciences — representing 22% of degrees — combined with strength in Arts (9%) and other STEM fields (5%), helps explain Vassar College's strong earnings outcomes and consistent performance relative to peer institutions.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University At Albany Higher acceptance rate (52.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 69 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 70% | $67,979 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut Higher acceptance rate (36.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 85 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 54% | $73,997 | Compare |
Connecticut College Higher acceptance rate (20.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 95 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 38% | $75,001 | Compare |
Hobart William Smith Colleges Higher acceptance rate (39.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 57% | $68,831 | Compare |
Gettysburg College Higher acceptance rate (29.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 48% | $71,517 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anderson University Similar quality tier (#33850 ranked) | SC | 55% | $42,101 | #33850 | Compare |
Shenandoah University Similar quality tier (#33852 ranked) | VA | 77% | $58,433 | #33852 | Compare |
Dordt University Similar quality tier (#33848 ranked) | IA | 68% | $52,559 | #33848 | Compare |
Roger Williams University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#33854 ranked) | RI | 88% | $70,266 | #33854 | Compare |
Ohio Christian University Similar quality tier (#33855 ranked) | OH | 38% | $39,813 | #33855 | Compare |
Computer and Information Sciences, General
41 graduates
Economics
56 graduates
Political Science and Government
46 graduates
Research and Experimental Psychology
53 graduates
International Relations and National Security Studies
24 graduates
Vassar College's program mix is anchored in business and engineering fields, reflecting the institution's applied professional focus. Economics is the largest program with 56 graduates, followed by Research Psychology, Mathematics, Political Science, and Artificial Intelligence.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 810 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in Social Sciences (representing 22% of graduates) and Arts (representing 9% of graduates), with other STEM fields accounting for 5%. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and technical fields.
Artificial Intelligence graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $124,469 with 41 graduates, while Economics graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $102,584 and Political Science graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $69,942. Research Psychology and English Language and Literature, General round out the highest-earning programs, with median 4-year earnings of $65,095 and $60,461 respectively.
These outcomes reflect the institution's positioning as a career-focused private university in the Springfield region, where business and engineering graduates enter stable, in-demand fields. The concentration in business and engineering creates a direct-to-workforce profile where most graduates enter the labor market immediately after completion.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
