Colby College vs Sarah Lawrence College
Colby College and Sarah Lawrence College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Colby, located in Waterville, Maine, boasts a lower acceptance rate (13.4%) compared to Sarah Lawrence's (58.4%) in Bronxville, New York. While Colby's student body is predominantly White (73.4%), Sarah Lawrence's is more diverse, with 48.4% White, 16.4% Hispanic, 12.6% Asian, and 10.6% Black students. Colby's popular majors include Economics, Biology, and Government, while Sarah Lawrence students often pursue majors in Writing, Visual Arts, and Psychology. With a higher graduation rate (92%) than Sarah Lawrence's (86%), Colby's alumni may have an advantage in the job market. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions between these two exceptional colleges and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Colby College |
![]() Sarah Lawrence College |
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Overview |
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Location | Waterville, Maine | Bronxville, New York |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 88.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 8.9% | 58.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | 1400 - 1530 | 1260 - 1470 |
ACT range | 32 - 34 | 29 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 15.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 9.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,857 | 4,452 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,407 | 2,603 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 667 | 438 |
Yield rate | 47.4% | 16.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $68,825 | $77,228 |
Average net price | $17,912 | $34,091 |
Tuition | $58,640 | $58,936 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$7,595
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Room/dormitory:
$10,774
Meal plan:
$5,584
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
39.0%
Average amount $58,513 |
90.0%
Average amount $36,103 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
8.0%
Average amount $5,140 |
48.0%
Average amount $5,321 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $18,242 |
5.0%
Average amount $18,443 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,262
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
1,529
Men 21.8% Women 78.2% |
Graduate students | N/A |
237
Men 16.5% Women 83.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 9.5% | 8.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,242 | 1,075 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 76.5% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 14.2% |
Transferred out | 7.5% | 9.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
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