About Sarah Lawrence College

Founded in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College. is a Private college. Located in New York, which is a city setting in New York, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 1,438 full time undergraduate students, and 298 full time graduate students.

The Sarah Lawrence College Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 9:1. There are 105 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Sarah Lawrence College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate51%
Application Deadline1-Nov
Application Fee60
SAT Range1170-1400
ACT Range27-31

Admissions at SLC are considered Selective, with ,12% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 12 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

91% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 59% were in the top quarter, and 37% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Sarah Lawrence College.

6%
“We”re apathetic”
33%
“We know about current events and vote”
35%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
26%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
2%
“We save it for the classroom”
6%
“Sometimes, but not often”
29%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
63%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
29%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
66%
“I feel extremely safe”
91%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
7%
“We bought the gear”
1%
“We live for the big game”
1%
“It”s not really our thing”
3%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
25%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
72%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
3%
“Available in class”
26%
“They keep regular office hours”
70%
“They”re always available”
100%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
0%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
6%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
65%
“We only party on weekends”
28%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
1%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
13%
“There might be people who do”
58%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
28%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
6%
“We”re apathetic”
33%
“We know about current events and vote”
35%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
26%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
2%
“We save it for the classroom”
6%
“Sometimes, but not often”
29%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
63%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
29%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
66%
“I feel extremely safe”
91%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
7%
“We bought the gear”
1%
“We live for the big game”
1%
“It”s not really our thing”
3%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
25%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
72%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
3%
“Available in class”
26%
“They keep regular office hours”
70%
“They”re always available”
100%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
0%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
6%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
65%
“We only party on weekends”
28%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
1%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
13%
“There might be people who do”
58%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
28%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Sarah Lawrence College REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    50 Students rated on-campus housing 3.4 stars. 8 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    35 Students rated off-campus housing 2.7 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    51 Students rated campus food 2.4 stars. 2 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    51 Students rated campus facilities 3.8 stars. 18 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    51 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 80 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    51 Students rated school activities 3.6 stars. 24 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    51 Students rated local services 3.9 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    51 Students rated academics 4 stars. 41 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Sarah Lawrence College?

15 Students rated Sarah Lawrence College

Isiah

Sarah Lawrence is overall a very inclusive and accepting school, with a diverse student base full of differing opinions. This allows for a safe community while also providing the ability for engaging and interesting conversation. There are also countless clubs and organizations that are student run and always hard at work. I have yet to get into many of them, but their photography groups provide ways for young artists like myself to get their work out and seen by others, which is always important. I may be a new student, but I already feel at home, and a part of the community. The orientation program was uplifting to say the least, it provided a great introduction to what it means to be part of the Sarah Lawrence community. Unlike most schools I would say that Sarah Lawrence encourages its students to stand out rather than conform to common culture. It is incredibly refreshing compared to my high school experience. In that, I can choose which classes I want to take, to such detail that I am pretty much independently customizing my educational experience. Similarly, the faculty and staff are incredible in every facet of the word. Everyone who works here is dedicated to helping you succeed, no matter their profession. There are of course some setbacks, which come with most any college, but no place is perfect. I think I even enjoy the setbacks, it adds to the experience to be honest. Overall, I love Sarah Lawrence so far, and have no intent on transferring in the near future.

Claire

I lived off campus and commuted from Brooklyn during my two years an MFA writing student, but it was worth it. but I always enjoyed being on campus and went there sometimes even when I didn't have class. There's a great community especially among grad students, who always seemed to be hanging out at the pub across from the train station to NYC. Plus NYC is a just a train ride away and SLC benefits from the vibrant happenings there. It's kind of like the best of both worlds. The SLC professors are always accessible because of the biweekly conferences they offered. I came to learn to be a better writer and find a writing community and I did that.

Claire

hhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggg

Bryana

Sarah Lawrence College is unlike any college that you will ever find. I won't lie, it was a tough four years. Socially, Sarah Lawrence can be isolating. However, it more than makes up for that academically. During my studies, I explored Theatre, Film, International Relations, Poetry, etc. At Sarah Lawrence you are offered the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects. Doing that showed me where my passion lied. Though I cannot say that it was the best four years of my life, I am appreciative of the education that I received.

Sarah Lawrence College FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Sarah Lawrence College?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Sarah Lawrence College is 51%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    There is the stereotype that we are rich, white, drugged out, excessively liberal but do nothing productive about it.

    Read all  130 answers
  3. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    In some cases.

    Read all  128 answers
  4. What are the academics like at your school?

    Academics at Sarah Lawrence are what I wish academics could be like everywhere. The largest class I've ever been in was probably around 20 people. Though they can get a little larger, they rarely ever do. Lectures are taught in relatively small traditional-style lecture halls and seminars are taught at a round table. In the spring, many professors hold their classes outside on one of the many scenic lawn areas on campus. Professors know you and address you by first name, and you know them and address them by first name as well. You take three 5 credit courses per semester (unless you're a music, theater or language third, in which case you take a little more), so there's a lot of time to study and be involved in campus activities and organizations. Most students study often, and as the semester comes closer to the end, the library is open 24/7 to accommodate long papers being written by students campus-wide. There isn't really any competition because our grades, though they are recorded, are not given to us unless we request them. Instead, students get written evaluations from their professors, so consequently by the end of a class you know what you need to improve on, what you have improved on, and other things that a simple letter grade just cannot tell you. I feel that this aspect of my education is among the most helpful, because I am guaranteed feedback, and thus, I always learn from my classes, and they continue to impact me after I've completed them. A really unique characteristic of Sarah Lawrence is the conversations that one can overhear in the dining hall and other student-populated places. Often you can hear philosophical debates, discussions on politics, science or literature, as well as, discussions on pop culture, theater, music and more. Intellectual discussions are absolutely not restricted to the classroom and more often than not spill over into casual conversations. One of my favorite and most valuable academic experiences has to be the poetry class I took my first semester called "The 60s", taught by well-respected poet Jeff McDaniel. We went through material ranging from Amiri Baraka to Sylvia Plath to Frank O'Hara to Gwendolyn Brooks. My writing improved more over the course of that semester than it has in all the years I have been writing. I think learning is more than emphasis of Sarah Lawrence education, and because of that, students are adequately prepared for the professional world by graduation. Education here stresses understanding, rather than simply spitting the information back. This is an important part of my experience because the information that I acquire in each of my classes is retained long after I acquired it.

    Read all  128 answers
  5. Describe the students at your school.

    liberal artistic hipsters

    Read all  126 answers
  6. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    I love my school; I can't say that enough. It's small, which is something I enjoy, especially in the classroom. After transferring from a school of over 20,000 students, it was refreshing to be in an institution where my professors knew my first name, and I knew and addressed them by theirs. The one-on-one relationship established between a student and their professor proves to be fruitful because they are often still active in their fields. At SLC, the classrooms are full of talent, skill and intelligence, which makes for stimulating discussion and a smooth-moving and effective curriculum. My first semester here, I was in awe at my peers, who all have something to offer- and I still am. It’s a very motivating and inspiring environment to be immersed in. SLC is very encouraging of one's individuality. It is a haven for the free thinker and someone who hates being told what to study and how to study it can really thrive here. For this reason, among many more, Sarah Lawrence pride is abundant. Many of the students love being here because of the professional and educational opportunities it provides, as well as the welcoming environment. Although not in a college town, however, the school’s surroundings are perfect. The train to NYC’s Grand Central Station is a ten-fifteen minute walk away in either direction. Sarah Lawrence is perfectly tucked away between the quaint town of Bronxville- with its boutiques, coffee shops and incredible dining options –and Yonkers, home to the Cross County Mall (Forever 21, H&M, Macy’s, Sears, etc) and a wealth of community outreach opportunities (such as America Reads) for a student of virtually any field of study. I honestly think that Sarah Lawrence is a beautiful place to spend my undergraduate years, and I don’t think I’d be this happy anywhere else. As a theater student, I remember the moment I knew that I would be just fine here. It was a late, light-homework night toward the end of a week in my first semester after I transferred, and it was the first time I had hung out with the girls that I can now say are some of the best friends I’ve ever had. At about 1am, after celebrating one girl’s birthday, we headed to the music building, settled into a classroom and sang together for a few hours. This may seem like nothing to some of you, to others this may sound just right. I will never forget that impromptu late night jam session, because I found myself surrounded by a group of exceptionally talented, encouraging and open-hearted people who are just as passionate about music as I am. And that was just one of the many amazing music-related experiences that I’ve had here.

    Read all  123 answers
  7. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Most of the organizations on campus have a devoted and passionate team of people, and thus, a dedicated following. The theater department is large, and additionally there are a few student-run productions teams on campus that produce amazing shows every year. The Burlesque troupe is incredibly popular and always draws a crowd. There are comedy performances weekly and semi-annually, and at the end of each year there is SNL-esque production that always brings in a full house. The spring and fall formals are always these big, elaborate catered events with a DJ, strobe lights and the works. On a Saturday night there is always a show going up somewhere. In the Black Squirrel, which is a student space where people go to hang out, there are board games and a large flat-screen TV, plus you can get milkshakes. Twice a year year, at the star of the last week of each semester- which is always the most stressful -there is a midnight breakfast. Almost the entire campus takes a break from their all-nighters to go into the dining hall and get a never ending stream of breakfast foods handed to them. It's widely looked forward to and almost never lets you down. The campus is pretty safe, and I've lived in dorms where locking your door is more work than not, so people don't. Often people can abandon their things in the library to go on a quick food run across the street. There are weekly parties in "the blue room", a club-like space where bands also come to perform. While the party scene isn't exactly like that of a big state university, most students prefer the dorm parties here to something wild and dangerous like college life is infamous for.

    Read all  117 answers
  8. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Sarah Lawrence is the only college in which students meet with their professors to create a semester conference project based solely on the student's personal interests. Each class is structured with no more than 15 students. Appart from the educational aspect of SLC, the campus is located north of New York City(20 minutes by the MetroNorth Train). It is filled with students that compile innovating ideas into a startingly reality. Nothing is "off-limits" at Sarah Lawrence.

    Read all  82 answers
  9. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Go with your gut. Your gut will tell you where you will learn the most; and in the event that you would be happier somewere else--don't think for a second you haven't grown substantially from that experience. There is no right or wrong, it's just about growing and learning. It's not about the name or the state or even the major because it's almost certain you will be a different person after your first year. Lastly, there's every reason to be afraid of something so new, and I advise you not to quell it, but use it as a vice from which to conquer new boundaries. Then you will blossom beautifuly.

    Read all  45 answers
  10. What's unique about your campus?

    The quality of education, absolutely. The class sizes contribute to the necessity of students doing the best work they can. Because discussion is so emphasized, students are able to share their ideas and gain insight from their classmates and professors.

    Read all  12 answers
  11. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    How unfriendly/closed off students on campus tend to be

    Read all  12 answers
  12. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Someone who is self guided, who can deal with working on their own and find courses they are interested in.

    Read all  10 answers
  13. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    Most people are very clique-y. Once people find their group of friends (usually within the first week) it's hard for them to expand their group at all. A lot of times the groups are pretty divided with socio-economic barriers.

    Read all  9 answers
  14. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Transfering can be a little tricky because not all the classes are standardized. also, you really need to be creative and self motivated to complete your course work successfully. the students design their own curriculum.

    Read all  7 answers
  15. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    The criculum for the Arts is exceptional here.

    Read all  7 answers
  16. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    The stereotype of a Sarah Lawrence student would definitely have to include the word "hipster" or "hipster-esque" somewhere in it. Jocks are definitely not what you'll find here but then again if you've heard of Sarah Lawrence you probably already know of its amazing programs in the arts and writing as well as across the board entirely but also that it's not a sports school. Students here are learners and genuinely love the knowledge they receive.

    Read all  7 answers
  17. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    The class sizes, the attention given to students by teachers, and the freedom to choose classes you want to take, in all areas of study.

    Read all  5 answers
  18. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Sarah Lawrence College is an academically enriching and progressive school that focuses on the needs of individual students.

    Read all  5 answers
  19. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    Viviana tells us how she came to SLC

    Read all  4 answers
  20. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Some one who wants frats, to slack off...this probably won't be the best place. Also, it's good to enjoy reading and writing and not talking a lot of tests.

    Read all  4 answers
  21. What are your classes like?

    Amanda talks about an experience she had in one of her classes.

    Read all  3 answers

Student Body

Students

72%

female

28%

male

1,438

Total Undergrad Enrollment

298

Total Grad Students

66%

Out-Of-State

16%

In-State

18%

International

Organizations

61

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

59%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
4%
% Black or African-American
4%
% Hispanic/Latino
9%
% White or Caucasian
50%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

81% of students attending Sarah Lawrence College receive some sort of financial aid. 23% were awarded federal grants. While 49% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$52,550

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$600

Books and Supplies

$14,440

Room and Board

67,590

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$18,934
$30 - $48K
$20,563
$48 - $75K
$24,363
$75 - $110K
$25,500
$110K & UP
$39,113

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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