If you want to be in front of the camera or behind it, Vassar College might just be the place for you: Meryl Streep attended the school while it was still a women’s college, and her Devil Wears Prada co-star Anne Hathaway majored in English at Vassar in the early aughts. Director Noah Baumbach graduated in 1991 and went on to film scenes on Vassar’s Poughkeepsie campus for the 2012 indie hit Frances Ha, starring his wife, Barbie director Greta Gerwig. Jane Fonda, Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy, and Mark Ronson are also alumni of the prestigious liberal arts college. 

But it’s more than famous alumni. Vassar is nationally recognized for its progressive history and forward-thinking ideology: founded in 1861 as one of the first U.S. colleges to grant women degrees equal to men’s, Vassar became coeducational in 1969. The campus is a registered arboretum and is known for its large Main Building which is a National Historic Landmark, though modernist connoisseurs will also appreciate the Marcel Breuer building on Vassar’s campus.

With an acceptance rate just under 20% and ranked number #13 among liberal arts colleges by US News & World Report, Vassar is a competitive institution many students would be happy to call home for four years. That being said, what kind of GPA will your child need if they want to be in Poughkeepsie? Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer to that good question. Vassar College has not reported the GPA of its incoming first-year students to the The Common Data Set Initiative since 2012. The Common Data Set Initiative is a voluntary effort among colleges to help all of those involved with a student’s transition into higher education. We at Ivy Coach combed through every single one of Vassar’s available Common Data sets, and the last available GPA numbers are from a now bygone era in terms of understanding the college admissions landscape. 

Vassar College could use a dose of statistical transparency. Their motto is “Purity and Wisdom,” so they should release the pure numbers and make all of us wiser. We at Ivy Coach call upon Vassar to do us all a favor and be more forthcoming about its academic profile. But, until that sunny day arrives, what can we glean from available data? We’re going to dive into that below. 

Further Context on the GPA of Vassar Students

Vassar, like practically every other selective school in the United States, uses a holistic admissions process. In their words, it’s a “whole-person” review. A student’s academic record is the first and most important thing they consider. In other words, they are weighing your GPA heavily in their consideration. But Vassar is also privy to the fact that numbers alone can only reveal so much: in 2023, they joined a growing number of leading U.S. colleges in going permanently test optional. “Studies have shown that test scores do not always accurately measure the qualities we are looking for in students,” Vassar President Elizabeth H. Bradley said. “Standardized testing simply shows who is a good test taker.”

Numbers are an important piece of the puzzle, but so are other elements of a student’s application. The Personal Statement and supplemental essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular background, interview, and special talents are weighed as well. At the end of the day, Vassar wants to admit students who are going to shape their campus culture and become alumni who will elevate their national and global reputations. And they probably wouldn’t mind having another another Oscar winner on their hands. 

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at Vassar College

If you’re looking to enhance your child’s chances of getting into Vassar College, we strongly recommend Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. This session provides insights into your child’s potential for admission to Vassar College and devises a comprehensive plan for optimizing their admission to the best school possible. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.