Campus Vibe
Known for business — close-knit campus
Sweet Briar College is a private institution in Sweet Briar with particular strength in business and biology. With an average SAT of 1227, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.
A small campus of 463 undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The rural location provides a peaceful, focused academic environment.
48% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $51,943 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $23,383.
Campus Visits
Plan Your Visit
News & Alerts
Sweet Briar College Launches New Data Science Minor
Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.
Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27
The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.
Admissions
SAT Score Ranges
Average: 1227
ACT Score Range
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
49.5%
Avg Tuition Increase
3.2%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$21,000
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
2
Peer Average
3
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus security, emergency notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Programs (35)
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
77%
- •77% first-year retention rate
- •Active student organizations
- •Engaged campus community
Mental Health Services
Counselor Ratio
1:350
24/7 Crisis Line
Yes
Free Sessions
12 per year
Avg Wait
5 days
Walk-in hours available weekdays
Disability Services
ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements
Dining
Rating
★★★★☆
Score
4/5
Meal Plan
$6,200/yr
Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Rankings
More About This School
History & Fun Facts
- •History Sweet Briar plantation Indiana Fletcher Williams (1828–1900), founder of Sweet Briar College The college is named after the former plantation of Elijah Fletcher and his descendants.
- •He married Maria Antoinette Crawford in 1813 and purchased the Sweet Briar plantation property from her aunt and uncle where he used slave labor to run the plantation and his household.
- •The plantation was initially known as Locust Ridge; Crawford supposedly renamed it "Sweet Briar" after the roses which grew on the land.
- •Their daughter, Indiana Fletcher, was born in 1828 in Lynchburg.
- •She met James Henry Williams, a student at Union Theological Seminary in 1858, and after reuniting in Virginia following the American Civil War, they were married in 1865.
Source: Wikipedia
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Housing and food costs are higher than national average
Climate (School Year)
Nearest Cities
Transit Scores
Local Economy
Getting There
Nearest Airports
Distance to Cities
Visit Planning
Suggested Itinerary
Nearby Hotels
Airport Transit
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