Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund Admiral Shares
Figures last verified October 31, 2026
Tracks the CRSP US Small Cap Growth Index — faster-growing, higher-priced small companies.
Here's an awkward fact this fund's marketing won't volunteer: small-cap growth has historically been the worst-performing style box — the 'black hole' of the Fama-French grid, where lottery-ticket pricing goes to die. VSGAX at least implements the category honestly: indexed, diversified across hundreds of names, 0.07%, no manager fees stacked on top of an already-challenged segment.
Who should own it? Mostly investors pairing it with a small-value fund to reconstruct total small-cap exposure with controllable weights, or those who simply believe the next era belongs to small innovators. As a standalone conviction bet, the base rates argue against it — but if you're going to make the bet anyway, making it for seven basis points instead of an active manager's ninety is strictly better.
Indexed exposure to small growth companies, eyes open about the historical record.
VSGAX alternatives & comparable funds
If you’re weighing VSGAX against the field, these are the funds most investors line it up against — same job, different provider, slightly different terms.
| Fund | Family | Expense Ratio | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSGAX — Vanguard Small-Cap Growth … | Vanguard | 0.07% | $3,000 |
| VSMAX — Vanguard Small-Cap Index F… | Vanguard | 0.05% | $3,000 |
| VSIAX — Vanguard Small-Cap Value I… | Vanguard | 0.07% | $3,000 |
| PRNHX — T. Rowe Price New Horizons Fund | T. Rowe Price | 0.80% | $2,500 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the expense ratio of VSGAX?
VSGAX (Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund Admiral Shares) has an expense ratio of 0.07%, which works out to roughly $7 per year for every $10,000 invested. That is very low by industry standards, where the average fund still charges well over 0.40%.
What is the minimum investment for VSGAX?
VSGAX requires a minimum initial investment of $3,000.
What does VSGAX invest in?
Tracks the CRSP US Small Cap Growth Index — faster-growing, higher-priced small companies. It falls in the small cap category and is an index fund.
What are good alternatives to VSGAX?
The funds most often compared with VSGAX are VSMAX, VSIAX, PRNHX — broadly similar exposure from different providers, with small differences in fee, minimum, and portability that usually come down to which brokerage holds your account.
Expense ratio and minimum for VSGAX drawn from Vanguard fund documentation; last verified October 31, 2026. Figures change — confirm against the official prospectus before investing. This review is editorial opinion, not investment advice.