Sweet Briar College
#8 Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 50% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,943 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,758 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 25.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.4 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $25.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,734,995.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $25.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Sweet Briar College Matters
Sweet Briar College is a private liberal arts college in Sweet Briar, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 443
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Engineering
Why students choose Sweet Briar College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1100–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,758 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,943 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 87% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.66 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 76%, Sweet Briar College is a welcoming option for students looking for a supportive environment. This small, private college in Virginia has an enrollment of just 443, making it easy to get to know your professors and peers. Students here often pursue degrees in fields like Biology, Psychology, Engineering, and Business. The intimate setting fosters collaboration, allowing for a personalized educational experience.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, alumni earn a median salary of $51,943 ten years after finishing their studies. This figure suggests that a degree from Sweet Briar can lead to stable job opportunities, especially in fields like Social Sciences and Biomedical studies. The college has a reasonable net price of $17,758, making it more accessible for many families when compared to larger institutions.
When considering finances, keep in mind that the median debt for graduates is $27,000. While this is a significant amount, the college’s affordability, coupled with a 31% Pell Grant rate, allows many students to graduate with less financial burden. Sweet Briar tends to attract students who appreciate a tight-knit community and are eager to engage deeply in their studies. If you're looking for a college experience that blends academic rigor with personal growth, this could be a good fit.
Rankings
- #8 Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia
- #9 Smallest Colleges in America
- #9 Best Psychology Colleges in Virginia
- #10 Best Education Colleges in Virginia
- #10 Best Biology Colleges in Virginia
- #18 Best Business Colleges in Virginia
- #19 Best Bachelor's Programs in Virginia
- #19 Best Master's Programs in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Sweet Briar College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Sweet Briar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sweet Briar, Virginia, Sweet Briar College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,230. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- SAT Average
- 1230
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1100–1310
- Full-Time Faculty
- 62%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,914
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 23%
- Applicants
- 1,204
- Admitted
- 912
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Sweet Briar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Sweet Briar College is $26,160, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,758. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,734 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $26,160
- Out-of-State
- $26,160
- Avg Net Price
- $17,758
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 47%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,734
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,568
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,247
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,710
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Sweet Briar College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Sweet Briar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Sweet Briar College earn a median of $51,943, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,533
- 8 Years
- $46,254
- 10 Years
- $51,943
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.52x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2)
- 100%
- 100% (2)
- 100%
- 100% (2)
- 100%
- 100% (2)
- 100%
How Sweet Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Sweet Briar College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Sweet Briar College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,758/year ($71,032 total). Graduates earn $51,943 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,806,027 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,734,995 (25.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $71,032
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,806,027
- Net Return
- $1,734,995
- ROI Multiple
- 25.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,758
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Sweet Briar College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Sweet Briar College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.81%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.81%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 26.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $149,316
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $623,588
- Investment Income
- $-11,946,919
Top Programs
The fields Sweet Briar College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $52,505 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 19% $33,521 early-career
- Social Sciences 12%
- Engineering 11%
- Visual & Performing Arts 11%
- Psychology 7%
- English & Literature 5%
- Education 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Sweet Briar College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Sweet Briar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sweet Briar, Virginia, Sweet Briar College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,230. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Sweet Briar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Sweet Briar College is $26,160, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,758. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,734 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Sweet Briar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Sweet Briar College earn a median of $51,943, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Sweet Briar College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Sweet Briar College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.81%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Sweet Briar College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Sweet Briar College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 18% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Sweet Briar College.
- University of Holy CrossNew Orleans, LA · Close peer42% grad $49,316 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rosemont CollegeRosemont, PA · Close peer49% grad $48,555 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Salem CollegeWinston-Salem, NC · Close peer57% grad $44,640 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Bushnell UniversityEugene, OR · Close peer59% grad $53,623 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD · Close peer47% grad $53,728 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Holy Cross CollegeNotre Dame, IN · Close peer50% grad $50,416 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Sweet Briar College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Sweet Briar College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 18% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note