Vassar College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Science, along with a closely affiliated Neuroscience and Behavior major, through its residential undergraduate program in Poughkeepsie, NY. Vassar is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is one of the original Seven Sisters colleges, now fully coeducational.
Vassar College opened in 1861 as Vassar Female College, one of the original Seven Sisters institutions built to offer women an education equal to that available at Ivy League schools. The college became fully coeducational in 1969 and today enrolls around 2,500 undergraduates on its campus in Poughkeepsie, NY, about 70 miles north of New York City. Vassar appears on our list of affordable, selective small colleges for a psychology degree.
Accreditation Details
Vassar holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the regional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that reviews colleges and universities across the mid-Atlantic. Vassar last reaffirmed its accreditation in 2019 and is preparing its self-study for the next evaluation cycle, scheduled for 2027-2028. MSCHE accreditation is what allows Vassar students to access federal financial aid and transfer credits to other accredited institutions. See the leading accrediting bodies for psychology programs for how MSCHE compares to programmatic accreditors.
Application Requirements
Vassar accepts the Common Application or the Coalition Application and maintains a test-optional admissions policy, so applicants aren’t required to submit SAT or ACT scores. The application fee is $65, with fee waivers available for students who qualify, including automatic waivers for QuestBridge Finalists and U.S. military veterans. Along with transcripts and letters of recommendation, applicants submit a mid-year grade report once it becomes available. Vassar’s acceptance rate runs close to 19%, placing it among the more selective liberal arts colleges in the country, and its most recent U.S. News ranking places it at No. 13 among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at Vassar for the 2026-2027 academic year is $76,140, with on-campus housing and food adding another $19,800 and mandatory fees of $1,020. Vassar meets 100% of each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need, and more than half of first-year students receive need-based aid. Students who qualify for work-study can earn income through campus jobs or through Vassar’s off-campus, community-based work-study program. Applicants seeking aid must file the FAFSA along with the CSS Profile.
Psychology Programs at Vassar College
Vassar’s psychology offerings run through two closely connected majors, both housed within the Psychological Science department.
Psychological Science Major
Vassar’s Psychological Science major, the department’s current name for what was historically called Psychology, moves students through introductory, intermediate, and advanced coursework covering areas like cognition and perception, developmental psychology, social and personality theory, and health psychology. Advanced students can take part in faculty-mentored research through the college’s Undergraduate Research Summer Institute, and many majors complete a thesis or research project as part of their advanced coursework. Course credit is also available for internships, fieldwork, and independent study projects.
Neuroscience and Behavior Major
Students interested in the biological side of the field can pursue Vassar’s Neuroscience and Behavior major, an interdisciplinary program run jointly with the Biology department that examines how brain structure and development shape behavior. Coursework includes classes like animal learning and behavior, molecular genetics, and hormones and behavior, and majors can join Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology, alongside Psychological Science majors.
Explore accredited psychology and neuroscience programs at Vassar College and other schools to compare requirements, costs, and program formats.