Williams vs. Sarah Lawrence

Comparable Facts

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

Williams College is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Sarah Lawrence College is in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Sarah Lawrence College 10:1.

Williams vs. Sarah Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams or Sarah Lawrence? 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 Williams College than Sarah Lawrence ($15,894 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 6.3% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($17,260 vs. $18,426).
• Williams College is 2.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sarah Lawrence (about $1,698 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at Williams than at Sarah Lawrence College (about $1,698 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $66,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Williams College (90% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 77.6% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($68,966 vs. $38,838).

Williams vs. Sarah Lawrence Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is 190 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming Williams 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: Williams College 1490/1570; Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Sarah Lawrence College 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Sarah Lawrence - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Sarah Lawrence (3.75).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Williams (8.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence.

Williams vs. Sarah Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Williams College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $29,500 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $1,082 lower median loan debt than Williams graduates ($13,500 vs. $14,582).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Williams graduates ($139 vs. $150).
• More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.