Harvard vs. Sarah Lawrence

Deciding between Harvard University and Sarah Lawrence College? 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.

Harvard University
Sarah Lawrence College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Sarah Lawrence Bronxville, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Sarah Lawrence Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Sarah Lawrence 1,798
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Sarah Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Sarah Lawrence #144
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Sarah Lawrence -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Sarah Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Sarah Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Sarah Lawrence $66,862
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Sarah Lawrence $66,862
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Sarah Lawrence $18,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Sarah Lawrence $43,629
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Sarah Lawrence $38,838
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Sarah Lawrence 90%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Sarah Lawrence 4,617
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Sarah Lawrence 2,850
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Sarah Lawrence 61.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Sarah Lawrence 14.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Sarah Lawrence 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Sarah Lawrence 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Sarah Lawrence 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Sarah Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Sarah Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Sarah Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Sarah Lawrence 28/31
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Sarah Lawrence 1240/1430
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Sarah Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Sarah Lawrence 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Sarah Lawrence
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Sarah Lawrence 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Sarah Lawrence $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Sarah Lawrence 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Sarah Lawrence $13,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Sarah Lawrence $139

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Sarah Lawrence 20%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Sarah Lawrence 80%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Sarah Lawrence High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Sarah Lawrence No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Sarah Lawrence 53%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Sarah Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Sarah Lawrence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Sarah Lawrence 10%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Sarah Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Sarah Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Sarah Lawrence 7%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Sarah Lawrence 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Sarah Lawrence 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Sarah Lawrence 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Sarah Lawrence 78%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Sarah Lawrence Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Sarah Lawrence No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Sarah Lawrence Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Sarah Lawrence No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Sarah Lawrence No

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Sarah Lawrence College is in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Sarah Lawrence College 10:1.

Harvard vs. Sarah Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Sarah Lawrence ($17,525 vs. $43,629).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sarah Lawrence College are 13% lower than at Harvard University ($18,426 vs. $21,190).
  • Sarah Lawrence College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $5,186 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at Harvard University (about $5,186 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Harvard University (90% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 75.1% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($68,015 vs. $38,838).

Harvard vs. Sarah Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 210 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at Sarah Lawrence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Sarah Lawrence College 28/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Sarah Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Sarah Lawrence (3.75).
  • Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence.

Harvard vs. Sarah Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $92,600 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Sarah Lawrence graduates ($6,500 vs. $13,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sarah Lawrence graduates ($67 vs. $139).
  • More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 70%)

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.