Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Vassar admits about 1 in 5 applicants (21%). That puts it in the "Highly selective" tier, more selective than 95% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (20% and 18%).
$65 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
New York applicants were admitted at 28%, applicants from other states at 29%, and international applicants at 5.0%.
All applicants in the same class: 21%
Of those admitted, 35% from New York enrolled, against 28% from other states and 34% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
30% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 918 offered a place, 510 accepted, 30 admitted (5.9% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 38% admitted
402 of 1,046 early applicants; 21% of all applicants
Apply by Nov 15; decisions by Dec 15
Second round: apply by Jan 1; decisions by Feb 1
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
No early action plan.
Where you stand
How Vassar reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank is important; tests are considered. Scores are optional. 32% of first-years sent an SAT and 14% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 29% whose high school reported a rank, 79% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of math and science. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
15% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 21% of first-year applicants
365 applied · 54 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by March 15, decisions by May 15
- Spring entry: apply by November 1, decisions by December 15
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 1 for fall 2026.
- Decisions are sent by April 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 1 week if admitted later.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Recommended |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science | 4 |
| Foreign language | 4 |
| Social studies | 4 |
| Total | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Started requiring high school GPA in fall 2024; Started considering a demonstration of competencies in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
79% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 97% in the top quarter, of the 29% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:Vassar College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1490 on the SAT, 320 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
Nearly all who sent an SAT (96%) scored 1400 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an ACT (98%) scored 30 or higher.
Nearly all who sent an SAT (92%) scored 700 or higher.
87% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Shares of the 32% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 14% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
225 studentssubmitted ACT
96 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Vassar College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Vassar College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Vassar College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Vassar College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)