Head-to-head comparison
The New School vs Sarah Lawrence College: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
The New School
- Net price / year
- $58,741
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,901
- Payback
- 51.7 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 51.7 years at The New School, on median earnings of $53,603 vs $52,901 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The New School | Sarah Lawrence College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $58,741 | $41,437 |
| Total net cost | $234,964 | $165,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,901 | $53,603 |
| Median debt | $22,266 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 51.7 yrs | 31.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$144,144 | -$60,888 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, The New School or Sarah Lawrence College?
Sarah Lawrence College, at $41,437 a year after aid versus $58,741 — a gap of $17,304 a year, or $69,216 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 The New School or Sarah Lawrence College graduates earn more?
Sarah Lawrence College graduates report a median $53,603 ten years after entry, $702 more than the $52,901 at The New School. 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, The New School or Sarah Lawrence College?
The New School: its completers carry a median $22,266 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Sarah Lawrence College, a difference of $4,734. 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 69% at The New School. 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.