Emerson vs. Sarah Lawrence

Comparable Facts

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

Emerson College is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Sarah Lawrence College is in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Sarah Lawrence College 10:1.

Emerson vs. Sarah Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson 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 Sarah Lawrence College than Emerson ($43,629 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sarah Lawrence College are 11.9% lower than at Emerson College ($18,426 vs. $20,920).
• Sarah Lawrence College is 17.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $9,806 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.2% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at Emerson College (about $9,806 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Emerson College (90% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students is 43.9% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($38,838 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Sarah Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 10 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming Emerson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Sarah Lawrence).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Sarah Lawrence College 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Sarah Lawrence - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Sarah Lawrence students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Emerson (3.73).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Emerson (51.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence.

Emerson vs. Sarah Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson 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).

• Emerson College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from Emerson College earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $10,000 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($13,500 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($139 vs. $242).
• More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

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.