Amherst vs. Sarah Lawrence

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Amherst College is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Sarah Lawrence College is in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Sarah Lawrence College 10:1.

Amherst vs. Sarah Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Sarah Lawrence? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Sarah Lawrence ($19,049 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 0.2% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($18,390 vs. $18,426).
• Amherst College is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sarah Lawrence (about $3,618 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Amherst than at Sarah Lawrence College (about $3,618 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Amherst College (90% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 76.6% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($68,591 vs. $38,838).

Amherst vs. Sarah Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Sarah Lawrence? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sarah Lawrence and Amherst.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 200 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming Amherst students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Sarah Lawrence).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Sarah Lawrence College 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; Sarah Lawrence - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Sarah Lawrence (3.75).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence.

Amherst vs. Sarah Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and Sarah Lawrence? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $37,900 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $525 lower median loan debt than Sarah Lawrence graduates ($12,975 vs. $13,500).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sarah Lawrence graduates ($134 vs. $139).
• More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.