A student's cost of attendance includes direct costs (payable to the College) and indirect costs (not payable to the College). The following chart details direct costs by graduate program. Additionally, we provide estimated indirect costs that graduate students can expect each year of enrollment at the College.
Tuition and Fees for 2025–2026
Two-Year Masters Degree Programs: Full-Time Tuition
| Program | Total # of Credits for Degree | Full-Time Tuition Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Art of Teaching | 68 |
$36,044 |
| Art of Teaching and Child Development, Dual | 99 |
$36,044 |
| Child Development | 48 | $36,004 |
| Dance | 48 | $35,802 |
| Dance/Movement Therapy | 60 | $36,186 |
| Human Genetics | 70 | $39,852 |
| Theatre | 48 | $35,802 |
| Writing | 44 | $37,226 |
Typical time to degree for full time students is two years/four semesters (three years/six semesters for Dual Degree).
Child Development & Social Work Dual Degree with NYU
| Program | Total # of Credits Taken at SLC | Full-Time Tuition (Paid Only in Year One)* |
|---|---|---|
| Child Development and Social Work, Dual | 38 | $55,948 |
Typical time to degree for full time students is four semesters/two years at Sarah Lawrence and four semesters/two years at NYU. Note that in the third year, semesters overlap.
*Child Development and Social Work Dual Degree students do not pay Sarah Lawrence tuition in their second or third year of the program. Child Development and Social Work Dual Degree students spend their first year at Sarah Lawrence and their second and third year at NYU. These students only come back to Sarah Lawrence to complete their thesis in their third year. In this third year, students take 14 credits and are billed a maintenance of matriculation fee of $400 only. They are not eligible for health insurance, as they are full time at NYU and covered there. They do not pay health services fees.
MFA Writing Program: Half-Time Tuition
| Program | Total # of Credits for Degree | Half-Time Tuition Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| MFA Writing Half-Time | 44 | $20,306 |
Typical time to degree for half time MFA Writing students is four years/eight semesters.
Two-Year Masters Degree Programs: Part-Time Per Credit Rate
Students are considered part time if they take less than ten credits per semester.
| Program | Total # of Credits for Degree | Per Credit Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Art of Teaching | 68 |
$1,166 |
| Art of Teaching and Child Development, Dual Degree | 99 |
$1,166 |
| Child Development | 48 | $1,650 |
| Dance | 48 | $1,641 |
| Dance/Movement Therapy | 60 | $1,327 |
| Human Genetics | 70 | $1,252 |
| Theatre | 48 | $1,641 |
| Writing | 44 | $1,861 |
Typical time to degree for part time students is four years/eight semesters (six years/twelve semesters for Dual Degree).
Advanced Certificate Programs
| Program | Total # of Credits for Certificate | Per Credit Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Art of Teaching: Early Childhood Special Education Advanced Certificate | 17 |
$1,166 |
Fees for All Programs
Health Services Fee: $344/year
Note: In their second and third years, Child Development and Social Work Dual Degree students are not eligible for SLC health insurance, as they are full time at NYU and covered there. They do not pay the SLC health services fees.
Matriculation Status Fee: $400
Students on leave from the College who wish to maintain their matriculation status are charged a fee. The fee is per semester.
Health Insurance Rates
- Academic Year (August 15, 2025 – August 14, 2026) : $5,119
- Fall 2025 only (August 15 – December 31, 2025): $1,950
(For students graduating in December 2025) - Spring/Summer 2025 only (January 1 – August 14, 2026) : $3,169
(For students enrolled in January 2026)
Students MUST complete a Health Insurance Waiver to opt out of Sarah Lawrence's Health Insurance.
Thesis Summer Extension Fee: $500
If students have completed all requirements but their thesis by May 1, they may complete their thesis by August 1 and pay this fee. To be eligible for the thesis extension, the student must have made adequate thesis progress for the thesis adviser and program director to confirm that the thesis can be completed within a month.
Thesis Completion Fee: $1,500
Students who need an extra semester (fall or spring) to complete their thesis after their scheduled thesis completion date pay this fee.
Note: Child Development and Social Work Dual Degree students who need an additional semester to complete their thesis will be charged $500 for the first additional semester. After the first additional semester, they will be charged a $1,500 Thesis Completion Fee per semester.
Course Repeats and Independent Studies
Students who need to repeat a course or who need to take an independent study are charged the per credit rate.
Meal Plan (optional)
Graduate Students are welcome to sign up for the College’s Meal Plan D although they are not required to do so. Please see plan details and pricing here.
Enrolled Graduate Students who wish to sign up for this meal plan should visit the Meal Plan Options page on MySLC (login required) for instructions on how to sign up for Meal Plan D.
Students who sign up for a meal plan can pay in full or enroll in the Nelnet payment plan. Students with existing Nelnet payment plans may include the meal plan charges into their plans.
Personal Expenses (estimated)
- Living Expenses: $19,348
- Books/Supplies: $1,000
- Personal: $800
- Loan Fee: $216