Sarah Lawrence College At-a-Glance
- About Sarah Lawrence
- History of the College
- College Leadership
- Equity & Inclusion
- Strategic Plan
- Notable Alumni
- Viewbooks & Publications
- Sarah Lawrence in Pop Culture
- Offices, Services & Centers
- Visit Sarah Lawrence
Sarah Lawrence is a prestigious, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Founded in 1926 and consistently ranked among the leading liberal arts colleges in the country, Sarah Lawrence is known for its pioneering approach to education, rich history of impassioned intellectual and civic engagement, and vibrant, successful alumni. In close proximity to the unparalleled offerings of New York City, our historic campus is home to an inclusive, intellectually curious, and diverse community.
Talented, creative students choose Sarah Lawrence for the opportunity to take charge of their education. In close collaboration with our dedicated, distinguished faculty, students create a rigorous, personalized course of study, conduct independent research, and connect a wide array of disciplines. They graduate knowing how to apply the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary for life after college.
Campus
Sarah Lawrence College occupies 44 wooded acres in Yonkers, NY, near the Village of Bronxville—just north of New York City. A 30-minute train ride from the Bronxville station takes students into Midtown Manhattan. Learn more about the area
Facilities
In addition to our round-table classrooms, Sarah Lawrence has outstanding theatres, art and performance studios, and music spaces; modern science labs; state-of-the-art graphic computing equipment; competitive sports facilities; a 60,000-square-foot visual arts center; and recently renovated dining facilities.
Student Body
Our students are men and women who share an enthusiasm for intellectual rigor, academic risk taking, creativity in all disciplines, and original and interdisciplinary work. We are particularly committed to having our faculty, administration, and student body reflect the social, racial, and economic diversity that characterizes our society. The College’s 1,400 undergraduate students come from nearly every state and from 35 countries; 85 percent of undergrads live on campus.
Faculty Interaction
At Sarah Lawrence, students spend more time one-on-one with award-winning faculty than do students at any other college in the country. Meet the faculty
Study Abroad Programs
- Africa
(Sub-Saharan) - China
(Beijing) - Cuba
(Havana) - England
London (BADA) and Oxford - France
(Paris) - Germany
(Berlin) - Italy
(Florence) - Japan
(Tokyo & Osaka) - Peru
(Lima) - Turkey/Greece
Exchange Programs
- California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
- Eugene Lang College
- Falmouth University, England
- Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka, Japan
- Pitzer College
- South India Term Abroad (SITA)
- Spelman College
- Tsuda College, Tokyo, Japan
Graduate Programs
The College offers 12 programs of graduate study—many of them pioneers in their field—including three dual degree programs. Learn more about Graduate Studies
Academic Program
The academic structure combines small seminar classes with individual, biweekly student-faculty conferences. Students choose from a wide variety of disciplines and subjects with the guidance of their faculty adviser (or “don”). Explore Academics at Sarah Lawrence
Admission
The College considers many factors in evaluating applicants. These include intellectual promise, motivation, and creativity, in addition to the quality of each student’s secondary school program and writing skills. Teacher recommendations and extracurricular activities play a role in admission decisions as well. A personal interview is recommended. SAT/ACT scores are optional. Learn more about admission
Financial Aid
Sarah Lawrence College is committed to enrolling students from all backgrounds and perspectives. Through a combination of grants (that do not need to be repaid), student employment, and student loans, the Office of Financial Aid works with information you provide to us to create an aid package that makes a Sarah Lawrence education possible for admitted students. More than 70 percent of our student body receives financial assistance. Learn more about financial aid
Accreditation
Sarah Lawrence College, as a member of The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a federally recognized regional accrediting body.
In June of 2007, The Middle States Commission on Higher Education completed its decennial review of Sarah Lawrence College’s accreditation status. The Commission found Sarah Lawrence College to be in compliance with its accreditation ‘standards of excellence.’
About The Middle States Commission on Higher Education
The Commission on Higher Education accredits more than 500 degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States region, which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several locations internationally.
The Commission is a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. It examines each institution as a whole, rather than specific programs within institutions.
Common Data Set
Notices & Disclosures
The following are links to consumer information, notices, and disclosures provided in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), which reauthorized the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Institutional & Student Information
- The Sarah Lawrence Education
- Faculty
- Undergraduate Disciplines
- Graduate Programs
- The Strategic Plan
- Institutional and Program Accreditation
- SLC Common Data Set 2014-15
- Privacy of Student Records (FERPA)
- Transfer Credit Policy
- Disability Services
- Copyright Policy
- Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy
- Academic and Student Life Contact Information
- Dean of Studies Office
- Student Affairs Office
Financial Information
- Cost of Attendance
- Sarah Lawrence College Net Tuition Price Calculator
- Withdrawal Refund Policies
- Loss of Academic Credit
- Financial Aid for Undergraduate Students
- Financial Aid for Graduate Students
- Student Employment/Work-Study
Health & Safety
- Security and Fire Safety Annual Report
- Drug-Free Campus and Workplace Program
- Student Medical Insurance Requirements
- Fire Safety Fines and Sanctions
- Campus Lockdown Procedures
Student Outcomes
Under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008), Sarah Lawrence College is required to make available the retention and graduation rates of degree-seeking, first-time, full-time undergraduate students. Of the cohort of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students who initially enrolled at Sarah Lawrence in Fall 2013, 85% were actively enrolled at Sarah Lawrence in Fall 2014.
The percentage of the Fall 2008 first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduates who completed their studies and were awarded degrees by Sarah Lawrence College within six years of initial enrollment is as follows:
- Overall: 77%
- By gender: 85% of men, 77% of women
- By Race/Ethnicity:
- Hispanic/Latino: 78%
- Asian: 82%
- Black or African American: 67%
- Two or more races: 75%
- White: 76%
- Non-resident alien: 88%
- Race/Ethnicity unknown: 100%
Graduation Rates by Financial Aid Status
Under Title IV, Section 485(a)(7) of the Higher Education Act as amended, higher education institutions are required to disaggregate six-year graduation rates by financial aid status. Specifically, the original entering Fall cohort is divided into three aid categories, namely: recipients of Pell Grants; students who did not receive Pell Grants but who were recipients of a subsidized federal loan; and students who received neither a Pell Grant nor a subsidized loan as part of their financial aid award package. Here are the results for the class that entered in Fall 2008:
| Initial Cohort | 6-Year Graduation Rate | |
| Pell Grant Recipients | 33 | 79% |
| Subsidized Stafford Loan Recipients without Pell Grants | 114 | 78% |
| Neither Pell nor Subsidized Stafford Loan | 201 | 76% |
National Survey on Student Engagement
Sarah Lawrence College participates in the National Survey on Student Engagement initiative (NSSE), which measures students’ participation in studies and activities that are predictors of positive learning outcomes. In the 2011 administration of the survey, Sarah Lawrence first-year and senior students reported Levels of Academic Challenge and Student-Faculty Interaction within the top 10% of high-performing institutions. In fact, for both Level of Academic Challenge and Student-Faculty Interaction, Sarah Lawrence students reported statistically significant levels of engagement above the mean for the top 10% of high-performing institutions.
Graduate School Attendance and Study
Through the National Student Clearinghouse, Sarah Lawrence College has graduate school attendance of our alums. For specifics about rates of attendance, fields of study, and colleges attended, download