Head-to-head comparison
Marymount Manhattan College vs Sarah Lawrence College: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
Marymount Manhattan College
- Net price / year
- $36,861
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,131
- Payback
- 191.2 yrs
Option B Bronxville, NY
Sarah Lawrence College
- Net price / year
- $41,437
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,603
- Payback
- 31.6 yrs
Sarah Lawrence College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $165,748 in 31.6 years versus 191.2 years at Marymount Manhattan College, on median earnings of $53,603 vs $49,131 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marymount Manhattan College | Sarah Lawrence College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,861 | $41,437 |
| Total net cost | $147,444 | $165,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,131 | $53,603 |
| Median debt | $25,750 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 191.2 yrs | 31.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$132,024 | -$60,888 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Marymount Manhattan College or Sarah Lawrence College?
Marymount Manhattan College, at $36,861 a year after aid versus $41,437 — a gap of $4,576 a year, or $18,304 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Marymount Manhattan College or Sarah Lawrence College graduates earn more?
Sarah Lawrence College graduates report a median $53,603 ten years after entry, $4,472 more than the $49,131 at Marymount Manhattan College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Marymount Manhattan College or Sarah Lawrence College?
Marymount Manhattan College: its completers carry a median $25,750 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Sarah Lawrence College, a difference of $1,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Sarah Lawrence College, against 49% at Marymount Manhattan College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.