Sarah Lawrence College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bronxville, New York. It enrolls 1,530 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value3
Affordability3
Selectivity81
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 61.7%, Sarah Lawrence College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
61.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1240 – 1430
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Sarah Lawrence College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Sarah Lawrence College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $41,437 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$41,437
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
12%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
40%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$66,862
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,426
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,426
Books & Supplies
$600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$800
Total Cost of Attendance
$82,467
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$29,876
$30,001 – $48,000
$29,810
$48,001 – $75,000
$40,869
$75,001 – $110,000
$35,340
Over $110,000
$47,810
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$19,50075%percentile
$28,55390%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,500
↓ $5,500
No Pell $18,176
↓ $8,824
Female students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Male students $20,500
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,248, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
76% of full-time students who enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
76%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Sarah Lawrence College earn a median of $53,603 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,603
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$45,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,600, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Sarah Lawrence College is home to 1,530 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,530
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
11%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 61.4%939
Hispanic 12.2%187
Other 7.4%113
Black 5.2%80
Asian 5.1%78
International 4.9%75
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Sarah Lawrence College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbBronxville, New York
Housing
Mostly residential1,070 beds on campus
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Sarah Lawrence College offers
a varied set of programs:
10 distinct programs across
7 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sarah Lawrence College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$194M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$93,022
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
97 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
97
100%
$93,022
Pros & Cons of Sarah Lawrence College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Sarah Lawrence College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Frequently Asked Questions about Sarah Lawrence College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Sarah Lawrence College.
Is Sarah Lawrence College hard to get into?
Admissions at Sarah Lawrence College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 61.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Sarah Lawrence College?
Sarah Lawrence College has an acceptance rate of 61.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Sarah Lawrence College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Sarah Lawrence College scored between 1240 and 1430 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Sarah Lawrence College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Sarah Lawrence College scored between 28 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Sarah Lawrence College cost?
The average net price after aid at Sarah Lawrence College is $41,437 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Sarah Lawrence College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,603 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $41,437 per year. That's roughly 1.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Sarah Lawrence College known for?
Sarah Lawrence College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Rhetoric & Composition, Mental Health Services. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Sarah Lawrence College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Sarah Lawrence College are $53,603, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Sarah Lawrence College accredited?
Yes. Sarah Lawrence College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Sarah Lawrence College?
Sarah Lawrence College enrolls 1,530 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Sarah Lawrence College?
Sarah Lawrence College graduates 76% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Sarah Lawrence College a public or private college?
Sarah Lawrence College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Sarah Lawrence College located?
Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, New York.
What programs does Sarah Lawrence College offer?
Sarah Lawrence College offers 10 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Rhetoric & Composition, Mental Health Services.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Sarah Lawrence College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sarah Lawrence College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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