Vassar College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF VASSAR COLLEGE IS TO MAKE ACCESSIBLE "THE MEANS OF A THOROUGH, WELL-PROPORTIONED AND LIBERAL EDUCATION" THAT INSPIRES EACH INDIVIDUAL TO LEAD A PURPOSEFUL LIFE. THE COLLEGE MAKES POSSIBLE AN EDUCATION THAT PROMOTES ANALYTICAL, INFORMED, AND INDEPENDENT THINKING AND SOUND JUDGMENT; ENCOURAGES ARTICULATE EXPRESSION; AND NURTURES INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, RESPECTFUL DEBATE AND ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP. VASSAR SUPPORTS A HIGH STANDARD OF ENGAGEMENT IN TEACHING AND LEARNING, SCHOLARSHIP AND ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR; A BROAD AND DEEP CURRICULUM; AND A RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS THAT FOSTERS A LEARNING COMMUNITY. FOUNDED IN 1861 TO PROVIDE WOMEN AN EDUCATION EQUAL TO THAT ONCE AVAILABLE ONLY TO MEN, VASSAR IS NOW OPEN TO ALL AND STRIVES TO PURSUE DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUITY AS ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF A RICH INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ALL MEMBERS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED AND MARGINALIZED GROUPS, ARE VALUED AND EMPOWERED TO THRIVE.
- Income
- $371.1 million
- Spending
- $352.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 63%
- Employees
- 3,715
- Volunteers
- 1,425
- Highest pay
- $877,110, president & trustee
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $176.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION - SEE SCHEDULE OINSTRUCTION - VASSAR FOSTERS INTELLECTUAL OPENNESS AND EXPLORATION THROUGH ITS VARIED COURSE OFFERINGS WHICH INCLUDES 30 DEPARTMENTS, 3 INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMS, 14 MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS, THE INTERDISCIPLINARY INDEPENDENT PROGRAM, STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS AND 50 MAJORS OFFERING OVER 1,000 COURSES. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THROUGH ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE WITH FACULTY AND FELLOW STUDENTS, WORKING ON CLOSELY MENTORED INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND CREATIVE PROJECTS, AND PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS FORMS OF COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING, ALL OF WHICH ENABLE THEM TO ACHIEVE THE INSIGHT AND CONFIDENCE NEEDED TO FUNCTION MOST EFFECTIVELY IN TODAY'S COMPLEX WORLD. THE COLLEGE ADMITS STUDENTS IN EARLY AND REGULAR DECISION WITHOUT CONSIDERATION FOR THE STUDENT'S ABILITY TO PAY THEN MEETS THE FULL DEMONSTRATED NEED OF THE STUDENT FOR ALL FOUR YEARS OF THEIR EDUCATION. THIS GENEROUS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM IS ENABLED BY THE COLLEGE'S ENDOWMENT WITH ABOUT $85M OF AID AND $70M OF ENDOWMENT DRAWN A YEAR.
- $39.9 million spent. ACADEMIC SERVICES - SEE SCHEDULE OACADEMIC SERVICES - THE COLLEGE PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES. THIS INCLUDES FACULTY ADVISING FROM NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION THROUGH GRADUATION, A LIBRARY WITH MORE THAN A MILLION BOOKS AND ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF ONLINE JOURNALS, AN ART MUSEUM THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION THROUGH THE PRESERVATION, DOCUMENTATION, INTERPRETATION, PRESENTATION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ITS COLLECTIONS; A ROBUST INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICE THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS' GLOBAL EDUCATION, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER SUPPORT RESOURCES THAT IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES. THESE ROBUST ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO VASSAR'S OVERALL FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 90% AND 6-YEAR GRADUATION RATE THAT OFTEN EXCEEDS 90%. APPROXIMATELY 20% OF VASSAR'S STUDENTS ARE PELL RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE SIMILAR GRADUATION RATES.
- $34.7 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES - SEE SCHEDULE OSTUDENT SERVICES - AS A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE, VASSAR IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME AT VASSAR. THE DIVISION OF THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE PROVIDES AND COORDINATES SERVICES THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ACADEMIC AND CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT LIFE. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE A ROBUST RESIDENTIAL LIFE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES FACULTY AND STAFF DELIVERING PROGRAMMING TO ENHANCE THE ON-CAMPUS STUDENT EXPERIENCE. THIS ALSO INCLUDES MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO HELP STUDENTS MAINTAIN THEIR HOLISTIC WELL-BEING THROUGH GRADUATION AS WELL AS CAREER EDUCATION SERVICES, WHICH HELP STUDENTS PLAN FOR THEIR POST-GRADUATION CAREER. THESE SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO THE HIGH GRADUATION AND RETENTION RATES AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH JOB AND GRADUATE SCHOOL PLACEMENT RATES. OVER 90% OF STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYED, ENROLLED IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, OR RECEIVE A COMPETITIVE FELLOWSHIP WITHIN 6-MONTHS OF GRADUATION.
- $26.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE RESEARCH EXPENDITURES, GENERAL PROGRAM OVERHEAD COSTS, AND AUXILIARY ENTERPRISE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.