Founded in 1861, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar is renowned for pioneering achievements in education, for its long history of curricular innovation, and for the beauty of its campus.

Location

Vassar is located in the scenic Hudson Valley, 75 miles north of New York City, in Poughkeepsie (area population, about 100,000). Vassar is in a residential area three miles from the city center.

Students

2,400 students; approximately 60% come from public high schools, 40% from private schools (both independent and religious). In recent freshman classes, students of color comprised 25-33% of matriculants. International students from over 50 countries comprise 10% of the student body. 

Faculty

More than 290 faculty members, virtually all holding the doctorate or its equivalent. All classes are taught by faculty members. The student-faculty ratio is 8:1, average class size, 17. More than 70% of the faculty live on campus or nearby; one or two faculty families live in each residence hall as house fellows.

Campus

1,000 picturesque acres ranging from the manicured lawns and formal gardens of the main campus to the meadows and woodlands of the Vassar Farm. Over 100 academic and residential buildings ranging in style from collegiate gothic to modernist, including two National Historic Landmarks. Most recent additions: the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film, with state-of-the-art screening rooms, studios, and production facilities; and Kenyon Hall, with a dedicated dance theater.