Reed vs. Lawrence

Deciding between Reed 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.

Reed College
Lawrence University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Reed Portland, OR
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • Reed Large City
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Reed 1,358
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • Reed Private 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Reed #77
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Reed -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • Reed Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Reed
  • Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Reed $69,350
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Reed $69,350
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • Reed $17,660
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • Reed $30,953
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Reed $55,445
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Reed 58%
  • Lawrence 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Reed 9,431
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • Reed 2,321
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Reed 24.6%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Reed 13.1%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Reed 1410
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Reed 32
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Reed 4.0
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Reed A/A+
  • Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Reed Exceptional
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Reed High
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Reed 30/34
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Reed 1290/1520
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Reed Test optional
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Reed
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Reed 9:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Reed
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Foreign Languages (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Reed 80%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Reed $47,200
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Reed 84%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Reed $16,000
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Reed $165
  • Lawrence $282

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Reed 42%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • Reed 58%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Reed Medium
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • Reed No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • Reed 60%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • Reed 5%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • Reed 2%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Reed 11%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • Reed 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Reed 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Reed 8%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • Reed 7%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Reed 5%
  • Lawrence 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Reed 16%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Reed 77%
  • Lawrence 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Reed College in Portland, OR with Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lawrence University is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (1,417 students vs. 1,358 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Reed College is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Reed College 9:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

Reed vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Reed 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 Reed ($27,161 vs. $30,953).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 31.1% lower than at Reed College ($12,165 vs. $17,660).
  • Reed College is 21.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lawrence (about $12,368 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.7% higher at Reed than at Lawrence University (about $12,368 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawrence University than at Reed College (100% vs. 58%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 29.9% larger than aid received by Lawrence University students ($55,445 vs. $42,688).

Reed vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Reed or Lawrence? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Lawrence and Reed.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Reed College (1410) is 100 points higher than at Lawrence (1310).
  • Incoming Reed students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (32 vs. 27 at Lawrence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Reed College 1290/1520; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Reed College 30/34; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Reed - Test optional; Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Reed students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Lawrence (3.52).
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than Reed (24.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Reed vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

Reed vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Reed and Lawrence? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Reed College's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Lawrence University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Reed College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $11,350 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($16,000 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($165 vs. $282).
  • More Reed graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.