Sarah Lawrence vs. SUNY Cortland

Comparable Facts

Compare Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sarah Lawrence College 10:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

Sarah Lawrence vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence or SUNY Cortland? 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 State University of New York at Cortland than Sarah Lawrence ($19,847 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 15.6% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($15,560 vs. $18,426).
• Sarah Lawrence College is 653.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $57,988 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 256% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $48,078 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at State University of New York at Cortland (90% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students is 370.5% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($38,838 vs. $8,254).

Sarah Lawrence vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sarah Lawrence or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland and Sarah Lawrence.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sarah Lawrence College (1340) is 170 points higher than at SUNY Cortland (1170).
• Incoming Sarah Lawrence students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at SUNY Cortland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31; State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - Test optional; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Sarah Lawrence students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SUNY Cortland (3.7).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

Sarah Lawrence vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sarah Lawrence and SUNY Cortland? 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).

• Sarah Lawrence College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than State University of New York at Cortland's (67%).
• Graduates from State University of New York at Cortland earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than SUNY Cortland graduates ($13,500 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Cortland graduates ($139 vs. $222).
• More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Cortland students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

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.