@pnwsea “My source is a close family friend who is a board member at vassar.” I call Baloney. The 2018 Princeton review named Vassar as one of the best LACs for Financial Aid (ahead of Colgate I might add) https://www.collegemedianetwork.com/princeton-review-names-top-10-private-colleges-with-great-financial-aid/
Vassar is regularly ranked as having superior aid by Forbes, US News and World, Princeton etc. I get over $60,000 a year from Vassar; if I had read a stupid comment like yours, I might not have applied. Vassar IS need blind; it does meet demonstrated need (if you are accepted, they will meet your FAFSA EFC). Admissions and Financial Aid work separately, so being poor will not hurt your application. Students from lower income brackets and Questbridge and first gen come earlier in the summer to receive the help and counseling that they will need to be successful.
At any rate, OP you have two good schools to choose from. I hope you do visit Vassar - it is gorgeous and the people are so interesting, engaged and nice. Maybe read up on it on a more trustworthy less biased site. I have no beef against Colgate; I am sure it is a good school. Good luck to you.