Sarah Lawrence vs. Carnegie Mellon

Comparable Facts

Compare Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sarah Lawrence College 10:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon University than Sarah Lawrence ($35,552 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carnegie Mellon University are 1.4% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($18,166 vs. $18,426).
• Sarah Lawrence College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carnegie Mellon (about $616 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at Carnegie Mellon University (about $616 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $66,246.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Carnegie Mellon University (90% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 23.9% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($48,107 vs. $38,838).

Sarah Lawrence vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sarah Lawrence or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon and Sarah Lawrence.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 200 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming Carnegie Mellon 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: Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Sarah Lawrence (3.75).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sarah Lawrence and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

• Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $58,600 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $12,750 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($13,500 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $132 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($139 vs. $271).
• More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sarah Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 83%)

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.