Vassar College vs Claremont McKenna College

Vassar College and Claremont McKenna College, two esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Vassar, nestled in the Hudson Valley, boasts a higher acceptance rate (29%) compared to Claremont McKenna's selective 13%. Both colleges foster diverse student bodies, with Vassar's larger undergraduate population (2,400) reflecting a broader range of backgrounds. Claremont McKenna's focus on economics and public affairs attracts students seeking a rigorous education in these fields, while Vassar's strength in the humanities and social sciences draws students passionate about critical thinking and cultural exploration. With comparable graduation rates, both colleges ensure their students are well-prepared for successful careers or further academic pursuits. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Claremont McKenna College logo

Claremont McKenna College

Vassar College logo

Vassar College

Overview

Location Claremont, California Poughkeepsie, New York
Campus setting Suburb: Large 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 98.0% 95.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 11.2% 20.1%
Application fees $70
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1420 - 1530 1420 - 1540
ACT range 32 - 35 32 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 28.0% 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 25.0% 20.0%
Total number of applicants 5,632 10,884
Total number of admissions given out 633 2,193
Admitted students who chose to enroll 358 679
Yield rate 56.6% 31.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not 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 $79,347 $81,330
Average net price $21,663 $27,249
Tuition $57,876 $61,940
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,626

Meal plan: $8,280
$15,710
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

65.0%
Average amount $33,141
57.0%
Average amount $49,162
Students receiving federal student loan 17.0%
Average amount $3,535
46.0%
Average amount $3,729
Students taking out private loans 22.0%
Average amount $7,870
4.0%
Average amount $14,435

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,416
Men 49.2% Women 50.8%
2,516
Men 38.4% Women 61.6%
Graduate students 6
Men 66.7% Women 33.3%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 52.1% N/A
International students 15.5% 8.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,354 2,448
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California New York Washington Texas Colorado N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Computer and Information Science
  • 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 Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.7% 92.5%
Dropout rate 7.3% 5.6%
Transferred out N/A 2.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,566
  • Year 2: $87,754
  • Year 3: $91,488
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,025
  • Year 3: N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $100,075
  • Year 3: 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

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