Lawrence University — College Profile

About

Lawrence University is a distinguished institution in Appleton, Wisconsin, best known for seamlessly integrating a nationally recognized Conservatory of Music with a rigorous college of liberal arts and sciences. The academic journey is uniquely bookended by distinctive traditions: the transformative First-Year Studies seminar, which creates a shared intellectual foundation for all incoming students, and a self-designed Senior Experience capstone. Campus life is creative, collaborative, and enriched by constant artistic performances alongside strong programs in the natural sciences, psychology, and international studies. Students also benefit from Björklunden, the university's scenic 441-acre retreat campus in Door County, which serves as a lakeside haven for weekend seminars, research, and musical immersion.

Wikipedia:Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1847, its first classes were held on November 12, 1849. Lawrence was the second college in the U.S. to be founded as a coeducational institution.

Location

Appleton, WI, 54911 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

MKE · Milwaukee

94 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$56,982

Housing & food (on campus)$12,165

Books & supplies$900

Cost of attendance$75,558

Average net price$23,401

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$56,982

Housing & food (on campus)$12,165

Books & supplies$900

Cost of attendance$75,558

Average net price$23,401

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: lawrence.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

Lawrence University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$61,407

Fees$312

Housing$7,047

Food$6,792

Books & supplies$750

Personal expenses$1,200

Transportation$750

Total published by the school$75,558

Source: lawrence.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$10,419

$30–48k

$13,332

$48–75k

$15,020

$75–110k

$20,256

$110k+

$32,758

Your family's actual price → Lawrence University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2024-25

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$37,342

First-years who got one107

Source: Lawrence University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

77%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

57%

Back for yr 2

87%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

80% graduated · 15% transferred · 5% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$40,653

10 yrs after entry$55,789

Debt

Median at graduation$26,000

Monthly payment$276

Middle 50% owe$12k–$31.1k

90th percentile$35,000

Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — arts & sciences: 69% graduate within 6 yrs.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

64%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1350

R 610–710 · M 590–710

ACT midpoint

Comp 24–31 · E 23–33 · M 23–28

SAT middle 50%: 1200–1420

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Lawrence University: Important (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Lawrence University's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Lawrence University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 48%Women 52%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

7 : 1

Pell grant

22%

First-gen

17%

Family income

$83,776

Independent

Age at entry

19.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

60%

Hispanic

12%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

11%

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Fencing
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Ice Hockey
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$40,653

After 10 yrs

$55,789

Music59

Psychology, General43

Biology, General36

Political Science and Government28

Economics21

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas18

English Language and Literature, General18

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology17

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics16

Neurobiology and Neurosciences15

Fine and Studio Arts15

Film/Video and Photographic Arts12

Natural Resources Conservation and Research11

Mathematics11

Computer Science10

History10

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$461M

Full-time faculty

84%

Faculty salary

$8,785/mo

Teaching spend

$22,280

per student

Federal loans

49%

Classification

Carnegie type

Baccalaureate — arts & sciences

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, more selective admissions