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Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar College is based in the town of Sweet Briar, VA — a private campus in a small-town setting. The federal record classifies Sweet Briar College as a women-only institution; check current eligibility with admissions.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

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Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$16,674

family income
under $30k

$18,456

$30–48k

$20,468

$48–75k

$26,738

$75–110k

$31,184

over $110k

Average net price

$17,7582023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Sweet Briar College has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $27,635 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $17,758.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$18,161
2009	$25,212
2010	$21,394
2011	$23,226
2012	$24,611
2013	$23,355
2014	$24,606
2015	$25,240
2016	$21,291
2017	$22,672
2018	$25,039
2019	$23,783
2020	$19,661
2021	$27,635
2022	$23,383
2023	$17,758

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$43,8982024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Sweet Briar College has wandered from 2009 to 2024 — up to $53,912 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $43,898.

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$39,971
2010	$42,776
2011	$42,944
2012	$44,766
2013	$46,966
2014	$48,896
2015	$50,637
2016	$50,684
2017	$52,885
2018	$53,912
2019	$37,744
2020	$38,835
2021	$39,985
2022	$40,846
2023	$41,832
2024	$43,898

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$17,174
2001	$17,860
2002	$18,910
2003	$19,900
2004	$20,880
2005	$22,230
2006	$23,340
2007	$25,015
2008	$26,995
2013	$33,605
2014	$34,935
2015	$34,935
2016	$36,425
2017	$37,155
2018	$21,000
2019	$22,020
2020	$22,700
2021	$23,080
2022	$23,590
2023	$25,110

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Sweet Briar College reports published tuition of $26,160 in this record. Sweet Briar College's $26,160 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Sweet Briar College reports 443 undergraduates. This count does not measure class size or advising access.

51.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Sweet Briar College within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

51.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Sweet Briar College fell from 66.7% (entered 1991) to 51.8% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	66.7%
1992 cohort	66.7%
1993 cohort	65.7%
1994 cohort	67.7%
1995 cohort	72.8%
1996 cohort	61.3%
1997 cohort	67.5%
1998 cohort	67.1%
1999 cohort	67.2%
2000 cohort	70.1%
2001 cohort	70.5%
2002 cohort	71.8%
2003 cohort	60.2%
2004 cohort	59.2%
2005 cohort	69.6%
2006 cohort	62.1%
2007 cohort	56.9%
2008 cohort	65.1%
2009 cohort	63.7%
2010 cohort	60.6%
2011 cohort	54.1%
2012 cohort	46%
2013 cohort	33.5%
2014 cohort	31.8%
2015 cohort	41.7%
2016 cohort	61.2%
2017 cohort	48.1%
2018 cohort	51.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$15,904	$8,875
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$15,193	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,619	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$16,187	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$16,570	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$16,250	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$18,788	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$20,525	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$22,265	$6,750
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$24,825	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$26,000	$6,750
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$25,500	$8,610
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$27,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$27,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$25,179	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$25,707	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$27,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$27,000	$5,500

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$35,533

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$46,254

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$51,943

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Sweet Briar College admitted 936 of 1,239 applicants in Fall 2024. The 75.5% rate describes that application pool.

75.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $25,110 tuition · 2023–24 443 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1100–13101600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Sweet Briar College reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Sweet Briar College’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 560–670 and Math was 540–640 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1100–1310 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	560	630	670
SAT Math	540	600	640

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Sweet Briar College received 1,239 applications and admitted 936 (75.5%), with 124 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

75.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	81.2%
Fall 2002	85.2%
Fall 2003	87.9%
Fall 2004	79.4%
Fall 2005	79.5%
Fall 2006	80.3%
Fall 2007	81.4%
Fall 2008	82.7%
Fall 2009	82.3%
Fall 2010	83.7%
Fall 2011	82%
Fall 2012	79.3%
Fall 2013	84.3%
Fall 2014	93.5%
Fall 2015	95%
Fall 2016	93%
Fall 2017	92.8%
Fall 2018	75.7%
Fall 2019	79.4%
Fall 2020	75.9%
Fall 2021	80%
Fall 2022	75.8%
Fall 2023	71.7%
Fall 2024	75.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1100–1310Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	998	1233
Fall 2002	1018	1270
Fall 2003	990	1190
Fall 2004	1030	1256
Fall 2005	1030	1230
Fall 2006	980	1235
Fall 2007	990	1210
Fall 2008	980	1230
Fall 2009	940	1148
Fall 2010	968	1200
Fall 2011	913	1190
Fall 2012	940	1180
Fall 2013	938	1210
Fall 2014	895	1160
Fall 2015	935	1230
Fall 2016	880	1180
Fall 2017	993	1180
Fall 2018	990	1210
Fall 2019	1010	1210
Fall 2020	980	1210
Fall 2021	1020	1260
Fall 2022	1020	1360
Fall 2023	1100	1310
Fall 2024	1100	1310

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

21–27Fall 2023 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	21	26
Fall 2002	22	27
Fall 2003	20	26
Fall 2004	23	28
Fall 2005	22	27
Fall 2006	21	26
Fall 2007	21	25
Fall 2008	20	26
Fall 2009	20	27
Fall 2010	21	26
Fall 2011	22	27
Fall 2012	22	27
Fall 2013	21	27
Fall 2014	21	28
Fall 2015	22	27
Fall 2016	18	27
Fall 2017	20	28
Fall 2018	20	26
Fall 2019	21	27
Fall 2020	20	25
Fall 2021	23	27
Fall 2022	22	30
Fall 2023	21	27

IPEDS Fall 2001–2023, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

443Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Sweet Briar College fell from 558 (Fall 2002) to 443 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	558
Fall 2003	524
Fall 2004	532
Fall 2005	556
Fall 2006	580
Fall 2007	636
Fall 2008	647
Fall 2009	611
Fall 2010	605
Fall 2011	610
Fall 2012	566
Fall 2013	599
Fall 2014	561
Fall 2015	236
Fall 2016	320
Fall 2017	281
Fall 2018	313
Fall 2019	334
Fall 2020	356
Fall 2021	451
Fall 2022	451
Fall 2023	463
Fall 2024	443

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

69%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Sweet Briar College fell from 79% (Fall 2002) to 69% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	79%
Fall 2003 cohort	78%
Fall 2004 cohort	75%
Fall 2005 cohort	80%
Fall 2006 cohort	75%
Fall 2007 cohort	70%
Fall 2008 cohort	78%
Fall 2009 cohort	76%
Fall 2010 cohort	78%
Fall 2011 cohort	74%
Fall 2012 cohort	69%
Fall 2013 cohort	75%
Fall 2014 cohort	34%
Fall 2015 cohort	50%
Fall 2016 cohort	72%
Fall 2017 cohort	73%
Fall 2018 cohort	65%
Fall 2019 cohort	79%
Fall 2020 cohort	71%
Fall 2021 cohort	62%
Fall 2022 cohort	77%
Fall 2023 cohort	69%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Sweet Briar College

Faculty pay at Sweet Briar College averages $82,968 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Sweet Briar College as a primarily residential campus of 443 undergraduates — and 69.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Sweet Briar College's SAT section-percentile sums are 1100–1310 — their midpoint is above the VA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Sweet Briar College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Sweet Briar College compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Sweet Briar College75.5%

Virginia median79.8%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Sweet Briar College$26,160

Virginia median$21,650

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Sweet Briar College's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Sweet Briar College$51,943

Virginia median$53,453

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Sweet Briar College, Virginia and national reference values
Metric & basis	Sweet Briar College	Virginia median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	75.5%	79.8%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$26,160	$21,650	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$51,943	$53,453	$53,781

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Sweet Briar College report?

Sweet Briar College's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1100–1310 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Sweet Briar College's acceptance rate?

75.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 936 admitted from 1,239 applicants.

How much does Sweet Briar College cost?

At Sweet Briar College, tuition is $26,160. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Sweet Briar College report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $51,943. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Virginia

Shenandoah University — 77% admitted
Roanoke College — 83.1% admitted
Virginia Military Institute — 71.2% admitted
Virginia Wesleyan University — 72.9% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Read the date and population definitions.