UNCSA vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (1,111 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 6:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

UNCSA vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCSA or Sweet Briar College? 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 North Carolina School of the Arts than Sweet Briar College ($13,140 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts are 11.2% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($13,517 vs. $15,230).
• Sweet Briar College is 176% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCSA (about $16,683 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $9,477.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at UNCSA than at Sweet Briar College (about $1,051 more per year; $27,211.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (99% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 73.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina School of the Arts students ($22,387 vs. $12,876).

UNCSA vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCSA or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and UNCSA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1260) is 50 points higher than at Sweet Briar College (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 1140/1370; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina School of the Arts 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCSA - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNCSA Mar 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNCSA students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Sweet Briar College (3.54).
• Sweet Briar College has a higher acceptance rate (75.5%) than UNCSA (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.5% at UNCSA vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

UNCSA vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCSA and Sweet Briar College? 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than University of North Carolina School of the Arts's (58%).
• Graduates from Sweet Briar College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than UNCSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sweet Briar College and UNCSA graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Sweet Briar College and UNCSA graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCSA students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 56%)

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.