Tuition & Costs for Graduate Programs

Typical time to degree for full-time students is two years/four semesters (three years/six semesters for Dual Degree).

Students are considered half time if they take 5 to 6 credits per semester. 

Typical time to degree for half-time MFA Writing students is four years/eight semesters.

In most programs, students are considered part time if they take fewer than ten credits per semester. MFA Writing program students who take fewer than ten credits per semester are typically half time, taking 5 or 6 credits per semester. Students interested in taking fewer than ten credits per semester should consult with their program director to confirm their program plans.

Typical time to degree for part time students is four years/eight semesters (six years/twelve semesters for Dual Degree).

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 per semester 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.

Five- Year Programs

*In the summer between their fourth and fifth year, DMT BA/MS students take Fieldwork (2 credits) and Clinical Fieldwork Orientation (3 credits) and pay for these courses at the part time per credit rate.

Six- Year Programs

Health Services Fee: $362/year
Note: In their second and third years (or fifth and sixth years for Combined Degree Students), 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 a personal leave from the College who wish to maintain their matriculation status are charged a fee. The fee is per semester. Students on a medical leave from the College are not charged this fee.

2026-2027 Insurance Rates:
Academic Year (August 15, 2026 - August 14, 2027): $4,863
Fall 2026 (August 15, 2026 - December 31, 2026): $1,852
Spring 2027 (January 1, 2027 - August 14, 2027): $3,011

Note: 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 degree requirements but their thesis by May 1, they may be eligible for a thesis summer extension. 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 is almost complete and can be completed within two months. Permission of thesis advisor and program director required. The students’ graduation date will be posted as August 31.

Thesis Completion Fee: $1,500
Students who need an extra semester (fall, spring, summer) to complete their thesis after their scheduled thesis completion date pay this fee per semester of thesis extension.

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.

Graduation Fee: $200
Graduating students pay this fee in their year of graduation.

Meal Plan for Non-Residential Graduate Students (optional)
Non-residential 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.

NEW! Room & Meal Plan for Graduate Students (optional)
New for 2026-2027, the college is offering limited on-campus housing options for graduate students. The room rate for 2026-2027 is $13,354. Students who apply and are confirmed for housing must also sign up for a meal plan. The default meal plan for graduate students is Meal Plan D*, but resident graduate students may sign up for any of the college’s meal plans. Meal plan options and rates are posted here.

• Living Expenses: $20,316
• Books/Supplies: $1,000
• Personal: $800
• Loan Fee: $216