Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sarah Lawrence College 10:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence or Penn? 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 University of Pennsylvania than Sarah Lawrence ($23,570 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sarah Lawrence College are 3.9% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($18,426 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sarah Lawrence (about $1,824 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at Penn than at Sarah Lawrence College (about $1,824 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at University of Pennsylvania (90% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 68.5% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($65,458 vs. $38,838).

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 200 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming Penn 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: Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Sarah Lawrence (3.75).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 68% at Penn.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sarah Lawrence and Penn? 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).

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $79,500 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $7,133 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($13,500 vs. $20,633).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($139 vs. $213).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sarah Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.