Elms College vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Our Lady of the Elms is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (1,268 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Elms College vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Sweet Briar College? 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms than Sweet Briar College ($19,870 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sweet Briar College are 2.4% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($15,230 vs. $15,605).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is 65.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sweet Briar College (about $17,165 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.6% higher at Elms College than at Sweet Briar College (about $17,165 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Sweet Briar College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 51% larger than aid received by Sweet Briar College students ($33,794 vs. $22,387).

Elms College vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elms College or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and Elms College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 30 points higher than at Sweet Briar College (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elms College - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Sweet Briar College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Elms College (3.42).
• Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Elms College vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elms College and Sweet Briar College? 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms's (58%).
• Graduates from College of Our Lady of the Elms earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Elms College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sweet Briar College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 61%)

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.