Carleton College vs Vassar College: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Net Price

Vassar College is the more selective of the two, admitting 18.6% of applicants versus 21.8% at Carleton College. For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $10,567 per year at Carleton College versus $10,234 at Vassar College. Admitted students post SAT middle-50% ranges of 1460–1530 at Carleton College and 1450–1540 at Vassar College.

Carleton College vs Vassar College: admissions and cost statistics from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard
MetricCarleton CollegeVassar College
Overall acceptance rate21.8%18.6%
Early acceptance rate34.6%31.0%
SAT middle 50%1460–15301450–1540
Avg unweighted GPA3.93.9
Yield rate35.0%29.0%
Class size518665
Net price, $48,001–$75,000 income$10,567$10,234
Net price, over $110,000 income$52,567$50,234

Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2025–26 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard. Rows appear only where both colleges report the statistic.

Frequently asked questions

Is Carleton College harder to get into than Vassar College?

No. Vassar College is more selective: it admits 18.6% of applicants, versus 21.8% at Carleton College, based on the most recent Common Data Set.

Which is cheaper for a middle-income family, Carleton College or Vassar College?

For a family earning $48,001–$75,000, the average net price is about $10,567 per year at Carleton College and $10,234 at Vassar College, so Vassar College is the lower-cost option at that income level (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

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