F&M vs. Lawrence

Deciding between Franklin and Marshall College and Lawrence University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Franklin and Marshall College
Lawrence University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • F&M Small City
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • F&M 1,808
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • F&M #60
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • F&M -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • F&M
  • Lawrence
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • F&M $16,188
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • F&M $43,987
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • F&M $41,901
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • F&M 80%
  • Lawrence 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • F&M 9,881
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • F&M 2,785
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • F&M 1390
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • F&M 31
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • F&M -
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • F&M -
  • Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • F&M Very High
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • F&M High
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • F&M 30/33
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • F&M Test optional
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • F&M 9:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • F&M 85%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • F&M $61,900
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • F&M 88%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • F&M $22,000
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • F&M $227
  • Lawrence $282
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • F&M 49%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • F&M 51%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • F&M High
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • F&M No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • F&M 59%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • F&M 5%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • F&M 6%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • F&M 8%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • F&M 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • F&M 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • F&M 2%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • F&M 14%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • F&M 6%
  • Lawrence 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • F&M 29%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • F&M 55%
  • Lawrence 62%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • F&M Yes
  • Lawrence Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • F&M No
  • Lawrence No
  • Meal Plan
  • F&M Yes
  • Lawrence Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • F&M No
  • Lawrence No
  • Daycare Facility
  • F&M No
  • Lawrence No

Comparable Facts

Compare Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA with Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Franklin and Marshall College is larger than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (1,808 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

F&M vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M or 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 Lawrence University than F&M ($27,161 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 24.9% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($12,165 vs. $16,188).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 24.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lawrence (about $13,812 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.2% higher at F&M than at Lawrence University (about $13,812 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawrence University than at Franklin and Marshall College (100% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($42,688 vs. $41,901).

F&M vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M or 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 Lawrence and F&M.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 80 points higher than at Lawrence (1310).
  • Incoming F&M students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at Lawrence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027; Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

F&M vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M and 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).

  • Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Lawrence University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $16,300 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $5,350 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($227 vs. $282).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.