Head-to-head comparison
Mercy University vs Sarah Lawrence College: which has better ROI?
Option A Dobbs Ferry, NY
Mercy University
- Net price / year
- $14,072
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,055
- Payback
- 15.2 yrs
Option B Bronxville, NY
Sarah Lawrence College
- Net price / year
- $41,437
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,603
- Payback
- 31.6 yrs
Mercy University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $56,288 in 15.2 years versus 31.6 years at Sarah Lawrence College, on median earnings of $52,055 vs $53,603 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mercy University | Sarah Lawrence College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,072 | $41,437 |
| Total net cost | $56,288 | $165,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,055 | $53,603 |
| Median debt | $19,637 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 15.2 yrs | 31.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $17,612 | -$60,888 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mercy University or Sarah Lawrence College?
Mercy University, at $14,072 a year after aid versus $41,437 — a gap of $27,365 a year, or $109,460 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 Mercy University or Sarah Lawrence College graduates earn more?
Sarah Lawrence College graduates report a median $53,603 ten years after entry, $1,548 more than the $52,055 at Mercy University. 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, Mercy University or Sarah Lawrence College?
Mercy University: its completers carry a median $19,637 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Sarah Lawrence College, a difference of $7,363. 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 46% at Mercy University. 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.