Sarah Lawrence: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Officially Sarah Lawrence College · Bronxville, New York · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Decision
  • Early Decision II
  • Early Action
4,085
Applicants
2,694
Admitted66%
350
Enrolled
13%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Moderately selective66% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1320
Mid 50: 1238–1378
In-state tuition
$73,088
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$41,437
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #125 (tie) in National Liberal Arts CollegesU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Sarah Lawrence College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.

Is Sarah Lawrence a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

Sarah Lawrence is a private nonprofit university in Bronxville, New York that admits about 66% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $41,437 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 66% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Sarah Lawrence is a private institution located in Bronxville, New York with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Sarah Lawrence admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 66%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1320 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $41,437 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Sarah Lawrence?

54% of enrolled students at Sarah Lawrence had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.73, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
34.0%
3.75–3.99
20.0%
3.50–3.74
22.0%
3.25–3.49
10.0%
3.00–3.24
9.0%
2.50–2.99
4.0%
Below 2.50
1.0%
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Sarah Lawrence College.

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What does Sarah Lawrence weight in admissions?

Sarah Lawrence reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

6
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities

Important

1
  • Academic GPA

Considered

8
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Interview
  • First generation status
  • Geographical residence
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest

Not Considered

2
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • State residency

How Sarah Lawrence reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Sarah Lawrence typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1238
50th percentile1320
75th percentile1378
% submitting SAT9%
ACT Composite
25th percentile28
50th percentile32
75th percentile32
% submitting ACT3%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test-optional for decades; submitting SAT/ACT is entirely up to the applicant.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Sarah Lawrence's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class18%
Top 25% of class32%
Top 50% of class78%
% submitting class rank21%

How much does Sarah Lawrence actually cost?

Published tuition is $66,862 for in-state students and $66,862 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,426 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $41,437 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 12% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$73,088
Room and board$20,316
Average net price (after aid)$41,437
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need77%
Average need-based grant$48,948
Average merit award, no financial need116 first-year students received one$38,122
Graduates who borrowed58%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$33,471
Financial aid formsFAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$0

Application deadlines and early decision data for Sarah Lawrence

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/15
Notification dateMid-March
Reply deadline5/1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 1
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineJanuary 15
ED acceptance rate (all rounds)50%
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadlineNovember 1

Will my child graduate from Sarah Lawrence?

These predict outcomes at Sarah Lawrence better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
81%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
51.63%
finished on time
6-year graduation
66%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Sarah Lawrence

The most popular undergraduate programs at Sarah Lawrence, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. Across all programs, Sarah Lawrence confers roughly 318 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities program report a median income of about $42,672 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities318$42,672
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Sarah Lawrence safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Sarah Lawrence disclosed 7 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
7
4.6 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
0
0.00 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
7
4.58 per 1,000
Burglary
0
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 1,530 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Sarah Lawrence?

About 85% of undergraduates at Sarah Lawrence live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
85%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
86%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Sarah Lawrence College.

Other colleges in New York parents ask about

Next steps for Sarah Lawrence

Common questions parents ask about Sarah Lawrence

What GPA do I need for Sarah Lawrence?

54% of enrolled students at Sarah Lawrence had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.73, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Sarah Lawrence typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 590–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 710. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–31.

How much does Sarah Lawrence actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Sarah Lawrence after grants and scholarships is $41,437 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $66,862. Budget against the net figure.

Is Sarah Lawrence realistic for my child?

Sarah Lawrence admits 66% of applicants, so 590–690 SAT Math is target range and below 590 is a reach. Then check the $41,437 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Sarah Lawrence?

Sarah Lawrence accepts about 66% of applicants out of roughly 4,085 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.

Is Sarah Lawrence test-optional?

Yes. Sarah Lawrence is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Sarah Lawrence?

About 66% of students at Sarah Lawrence graduate within six years, and 52% finish in four years. 81% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Sarah Lawrence?

Sarah Lawrence's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 50%, compared with its overall rate of 66%. The ED rate is not materially higher here, so weigh the binding commitment carefully.

What does Sarah Lawrence look for in applicants?

Sarah Lawrence rates course rigor, the application essay, recommendations and extracurricular activities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Sarah Lawrence a public or private school, and where is it located?

Sarah Lawrence is a private nonprofit institution located in Bronxville, New York.

What are the most popular majors at Sarah Lawrence?

The largest undergraduate majors at Sarah Lawrence by annual graduates are Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. The school awards about 318 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Sarah Lawrence safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Sarah Lawrence reported 7 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Sarah Lawrence?

At Sarah Lawrence, 85% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Sarah Lawrence College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers