Acceptance Rate
64%
Avg. SAT
1420
75th percentile
“At Lawrence University, you dive into a self-directed liberal arts adventure fused with professional music training, all in a quirky riverside enclave where professors treat you like a colleague from day one.”
Appleton, WI
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
Founded in 1847 by New England abolitionists led by Amos Adams Lawrence, who shipped books and ideals westward to replicate Amherst College on the Wisconsin frontier, Lawrence carries a legacy of bold experimentation—Wisconsin's first coeducational institution and home to the nation's only classical liberal arts college paired with a standalone conservatory of music. You'll thrive here if you're a self-starter who craves intellectual freedom, whether you're a violin virtuoso, a budding physicist, or a policy wonk dissecting global affairs; the school suits collaborative quirky types who prefer deep conversations over rah-rah crowds, but it might chafe if you need structure, big-city buzz, or pre-professional polish. Appleton, a compact Fox River town of 75,000 in the paper-mill-turned-tech Fox Cities, offers affordable off-campus digs, indie bookstores, and Packers fever, yet tradeoffs hit hard: bone-chilling winters that bury campus in snow for months, limited nightlife beyond dive bars, and a two-hour trek to Milwaukee for urban escapes.
Photo Gallery
+36
+28
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Lawrence's classrooms, expect intimate seminars where your 7:1 student-faculty ratio means professors like biologist Sarah Westfall hand you the keys to their labs sophomore year for fox DNA research, fostering a vibe of equals brainstorming over coffee rather than lectures from podiums. The open curriculum hands you rare reins—no gen-ed hoops, just your major (shine in the Conservatory's elite violin studios or physics' quantum tinkering) plus electives like Viking sagas or bioethics; double-degree seekers snag BA and BMus in five years. Tradeoffs? Niche strengths in music, sciences, and government eclipse slimmer offerings in business or engineering, and undergrad research shines but lacks Big Ten-scale facilities.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,417 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
60%
Black / African American
4%
Hispanic / Latino
11%
Asian
5%
Other / Multi-racial
20%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Appleton, WI
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Campus hums with a low-key, brainy buzz: you start in freshman-friendly Colman Hall, then pick from 13 student-run residences like eco-focused Plantz or party-ish Ormsby, where hall governments plan pizza debates—no Greek life means social life blooms through 150 clubs, a cappella jams, and Thursday film society marathons. A typical week mixes MWF classes, daily conservatory practice for half the students, Thursday trivia pub crawls, and weekend kayaks on the Fox River or hikes in High Cliff State Park; traditions like ringing the Main Hall bell after acing an exam knit the tight-knit 1,500 undergrads. Positives abound in the supportive 'Midwest nice,' but challenges loom—subzero temps trap you indoors, the social scene skews tame (think board games over ragers), and dating dips slim in this small pond.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Midwest Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$12,644
$30K – $48K
$15,062
$48K – $75K
$15,274
$75K – $110K
$20,887
$110K+
$28,882
Apply for Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA to unlock grants, scholarships, and federal loans.
Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
87%
4 Years Graduation Rate
69%
6 Years Graduation Rate
78%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$55,789
87% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Lawrence University and return in the fall. 69% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 78% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
69%
4-5 years
9%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
21%
Let’s find your perfect tutor
Answer a few quick questions. We’ll recommend the right plan and match you with a top 5% tutor.
Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$53,667
Acceptance
64%
Undergrads
1,417
4-Year Grad Rate
69%
Endowment
$418M
Appleton, WI 54911
Explore More