Bard College vs. Sarah Lawrence

Should I go to Bard College or Sarah Lawrence College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bard College or Sarah Lawrence is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bard College vs. Sarah Lawrence College comparison
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Bard College Sarah Lawrence College
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Overview

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
Location Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Bronxville, NY
Setting Town Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,922 1,743
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #180 #127
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bard.edu slc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
Tuition (In State) $62,790 $63,128
Tuition (Out of State) $62,790 $63,128
Room & Board $18,040 $17,546
Avg Net Price $25,218 $43,571
Avg Grant Aid $56,380 $35,677
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 84%

Admission

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,628 4,819
Admitted 3,466 2,840
Acceptance Rate 52.3% 58.9%
Enrolled % 11.6% 14.5%
Avg High School GPA - 3.75
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/32 29/33
SAT Range 1290/1440 1270/1440
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (100%)

Outcomes

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
Graduation Rate 76% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,600 $44,100
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,194 $13,500
Median Loan Payment $270 $139

Diversity

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
% Men 6% 2%
% Women 10% 11%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 53%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 1% 10%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 7%
% International 10% 13%
% Unknown Race 11% 8%

Students

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
% In-State 31% 18%
% Out-of-State 59% 76%

Campus

Bard College Sarah Lawrence
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bard College is larger than than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,922 students vs. 1,743 students)

Bard College vs. Sarah Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bard College or Sarah Lawrence?

  • Sarah Lawrence College is 0.5% more expensive to attend than Bard College for in-state tuition ($63,128.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.5% higher at Sarah Lawrence than Bard College ($63,128.00 vs. $62,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bard College than Sarah Lawrence ($25,218 vs. $43,571)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sarah Lawrence College are 2.8% lower than costs at Bard College ($17,546 vs. $18,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than Bard College (84% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College students is 58% larger than aid received Sarah Lawrence College ($56,380 vs. $35,677)

Bard College vs. Sarah Lawrence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bard College or Sarah Lawrence? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sarah Lawrence or Bard College .

  • Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (58.9%) than Bard College (52.3%)

Bard College vs. Sarah Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bard College or Sarah Lawrence? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Sarah Lawrence and Bard College.

  • The graduation rate at Bard College is higher than Sarah Lawrence College (76% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Sarah Lawrence College earn on average $2,500 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($44,100 vs. $41,600)
  • Sarah Lawrence College students graduate with a $12,694 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($13,500 vs. $26,194)
  • Sarah Lawrence graduates are paying $131 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($139 vs. $270)
  • More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bard College students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/