Columbia vs. Sarah Lawrence

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia University in the City of New York in New York, NY with Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Sarah Lawrence College is in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1; Sarah Lawrence College 10:1.

Columbia vs. Sarah Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia 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 Columbia University in the City of New York than Sarah Lawrence ($22,520 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 4.6% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($17,580 vs. $18,426).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sarah Lawrence (about $4,983 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Columbia than at Sarah Lawrence College (about $4,983 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Columbia University in the City of New York (90% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 72.5% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($67,010 vs. $38,838).

Columbia vs. Sarah Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia 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 Columbia.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 210 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming Columbia 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: Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580; Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35; Sarah Lawrence College 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia - Test optional; Sarah Lawrence - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia Jan 1, 2027; Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia 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 Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 64.9% at Columbia vs. 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence.

Columbia vs. Sarah Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia 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).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $63,500 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Columbia graduates ($13,500 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia graduates ($139 vs. $222).
• More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)

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.