Sarah Lawrence vs. Vassar

Deciding between Sarah Lawrence College and Vassar 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.

Sarah Lawrence College
Vassar College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Sarah Lawrence Bronxville, NY
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • Sarah Lawrence Large Suburban
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Sarah Lawrence 1,798
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • Sarah Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Sarah Lawrence #144
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Sarah Lawrence -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • Sarah Lawrence Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Sarah Lawrence
  • Vassar
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Sarah Lawrence $66,862
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Sarah Lawrence $66,862
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • Sarah Lawrence $18,426
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • Sarah Lawrence $43,629
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Sarah Lawrence $38,838
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Sarah Lawrence 90%
  • Vassar 55%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Sarah Lawrence 4,617
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • Sarah Lawrence 2,850
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Sarah Lawrence 61.7%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Sarah Lawrence 14.6%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Sarah Lawrence 1340
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Sarah Lawrence 29
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Sarah Lawrence 3.75
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Sarah Lawrence A-
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Sarah Lawrence Very High
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Sarah Lawrence Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Sarah Lawrence 28/31
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Sarah Lawrence 1240/1430
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Sarah Lawrence Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Sarah Lawrence 10:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Sarah Lawrence
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (100%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Sarah Lawrence 70%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Sarah Lawrence $44,100
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Sarah Lawrence 83%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Sarah Lawrence $13,500
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Sarah Lawrence $139
  • Vassar $163
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Sarah Lawrence 20%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • Sarah Lawrence 80%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Sarah Lawrence High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • Sarah Lawrence No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • Sarah Lawrence 53%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • Sarah Lawrence 5%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • Sarah Lawrence 4%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Sarah Lawrence 10%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • Sarah Lawrence 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Sarah Lawrence 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Sarah Lawrence 7%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • Sarah Lawrence 13%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Sarah Lawrence 8%
  • Vassar 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Sarah Lawrence 15%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Sarah Lawrence 78%
  • Vassar 63%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vassar College is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Sarah Lawrence vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence or Vassar? 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 Vassar College than Sarah Lawrence ($29,981 vs. $43,629).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 1% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($18,240 vs. $18,426).
  • Vassar College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sarah Lawrence (about $4,168 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $66,862.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Vassar than at Sarah Lawrence College (about $4,168 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $66,862.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Vassar College (90% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 47.9% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($57,443 vs. $38,838).

Sarah Lawrence vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 160 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
  • Incoming Vassar 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; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Sarah Lawrence (3.75).
  • Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
  • Graduates from Vassar College earn a median of about $14,300 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $2,280 lower median loan debt than Vassar graduates ($13,500 vs. $15,780).
  • Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vassar graduates ($139 vs. $163).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sarah Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.