Cornell College vs Vassar College
Cornell College and Vassar College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Cornell, nestled in the quaint town of Mount Vernon, Iowa, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on personalized attention, while Vassar, located in the vibrant city of Poughkeepsie, New York, emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and global engagement. With acceptance rates of 78% and 23%, respectively, these colleges attract students with diverse backgrounds and aspirations. Cornell's popular majors include biology, business, and psychology, while Vassar's strengths lie in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about the student body demographics, graduation rates, and other key differences between these two exceptional institutions, and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic goals and personal preferences.
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![]() Cornell College |
![]() Vassar College |
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Overview |
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Location | Mount Vernon, Iowa | Poughkeepsie, New York |
Campus setting | Town: Fringe | 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 | 78.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.1% | 20.1% |
Application fees | $30 |
Undergraduate:
$65
Graduate:
$65
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SAT range | 1155 - 1405 | 1420 - 1540 |
ACT range | 24 - 30 | 32 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 28.0% | 31.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 58.0% | 20.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,836 | 10,884 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,300 | 2,193 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 366 | 679 |
Yield rate | 15.9% | 31.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $62,735 | $81,330 |
Average net price | $22,667 | $27,249 |
Tuition | $47,100 | $61,940 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,868
Meal plan:
$5,688
|
$15,710 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $37,745 |
57.0%
Average amount $49,162 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
57.0%
Average amount $5,607 |
46.0%
Average amount $3,729 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $9,357 |
4.0%
Average amount $14,435 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,046
Men 52.5% Women 47.5% |
2,516
Men 38.4% Women 61.6% |
Graduate students |
9
Men 33.3% Women 66.7% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 3.0% | 8.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Fringe | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,060 | 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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 63.8% | 92.5% |
Dropout rate | 10.9% | 5.6% |
Transferred out | 25.4% | 2.0% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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