# Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX): Mutual Fund Facts & Distributions > Markdown mirror of https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vscix for AI agents. Same live data as the HTML page, regenerated on the same refresh cycle. Not investment advice. - Issuer: Vanguard · Asset class: Small/Micro Cap Equity - Strategy: Passive Index · Inception: 1997-07-07 This economical index fund offers extensive access to the U.S. small-capitalization equity market, by aiming to replicate the performance of an index composed of smaller companies. However, a key consideration is its exclusive focus on the small-cap segment, which is frequently characterized by greater volatility than larger market segments. It serves as an appealing choice for individuals looking to integrate a small-cap equity component into an already varied investment portfolio. ## Key Facts | Metric | Value | |---|---| | Price | $139.39 | | Expense Ratio | 0.03% | | AUM (All Share Classes) | $175.80B | | NAV | $139.39 | | Holdings Count | 1346 | | Distribution Yield (TTM) | 1.26% | | Annual Distribution (TTM) | $1.75 /share | | Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | | 52-Week Range | $115.65 – $148.17 | | Beta | 1.07 | ## Latest Distribution - Amount: $0.4067 /share - Ex-date: 2026-09-28 - Pay date: 2026-09-29 ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does VSCIX invest in? This economical index fund offers extensive access to the U.S. small-capitalization equity market, by aiming to replicate the performance of an index composed of smaller companies. However, a key consideration is its exclusive focus on the small-cap segment, which is frequently characterized by greater volatility than larger market segments. It serves as an appealing choice for individuals looking to integrate a small-cap equity component into an already varied investment portfolio. ### What is the expense ratio of VSCIX? Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) charges an expense ratio of 0.03%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations. ### How big is VSCIX? Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) is one share class of a fund that manages $175.80B across all of its share classes (VB, VSMAX report the same total). Our data does not carry the assets of this share class alone. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure. Funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation. ### Is VSCIX actively managed or an index fund? VSCIX is a passive index fund. It tracks a published benchmark by holding the constituents in their published weights. Index funds typically charge low expense ratios (VSCIX's is 0.03%) because there's no security selection cost. ### When was VSCIX launched? Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) launched in July 1997 and is managed by Vanguard. ### How has VSCIX performed? VSCIX's total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is charted at the top of this page. Switch the price chart to Total Return and pick a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year window to read the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over each horizon. ### Does VSCIX pay a dividend? Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares (VSCIX) currently distributes little or no income. Trailing-twelve-month yield is 1.26%. Investors looking for income should consider income-focused alternatives. See the Peers tab. ### How often does VSCIX pay dividends? Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares pays dividends Quarterly. Each ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date is listed in the dividend history table on this page. ### What is VSCIX's dividend yield? VSCIX's trailing-twelve-month yield is 1.26%, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price. ### When is VSCIX's next ex-dividend date? The most recently announced ex-dividend date for VSCIX was 2026-09-28. The next ex-date typically follows Quarterly; once announced it appears at the top of the dividend history table on this page. ### How much will VSCIX's expense ratio cost me over 30 years? On a $10,000 investment compounding at 7% gross return, a 0.03% expense ratio quietly compounds against your balance every year. The Fee Compounding Forecast card above projects the dollar drag for any holding period and assumption you pick. The typical result for a 1.0% expense ratio on a 30-year hold is roughly 25% of the final balance lost to fees. ### How does VSCIX charge its expense ratio? The expense ratio is deducted in tiny daily slices from VSCIX's net asset value (NAV). You never see a bill. The price quoted on every exchange is already net of fees. There's no "fee day" to avoid; the cost is continuous and built into the trading price. ### Why does VSCIX cost more than a fund like VOO? VSCIX is a passive index fund (current expense ratio 0.03%). Differences from broad-market ETFs like VOO usually come from index licensing fees, asset class (bond funds typically run cheaper than equity), or fund scale (smaller funds spread fixed operating costs across less AUM). ### Are there cheaper alternatives to VSCIX? The Lower-Fee Alternatives card above lists mutual funds following the same investment strategy as VSCIX (0.03%) but at a lower expense ratio. Each row shows the fee gap, the peer's AUM as a liquidity sanity-check, and a direct link to that fund's analysis page. Cheaper price doesn't automatically mean better. Verify the peer holds what you actually want. ## More on Dividend Data - Overview (HTML): https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vscix - Distribution history: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vscix/dividend - Holdings & diversification: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vscix/diversification - Fees & cheaper alternatives: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vscix/expenses - Peer comparison: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/vscix/peers Data sourced from primary filings and market data providers; see https://www.dividenddata.com/methodology.