Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sarah Lawrence College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,798 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sarah Lawrence College 10:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than Sarah Lawrence ($16,621 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 17.1% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($15,274 vs. $18,426).
• Sarah Lawrence College is 368.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $52,582 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 178.5% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $42,856 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (90% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students is 298.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($38,838 vs. $9,742).

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sarah Lawrence or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Sarah Lawrence.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sarah Lawrence College (1340) is 130 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Typical fall application deadline: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Sarah Lawrence (61.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sarah Lawrence and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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).

• Sarah Lawrence College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $13,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($13,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $138 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($139 vs. $277).
• More Sarah Lawrence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.