Sweet Briar College, nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Virginia, is consistently noted as one of the most innovative schools in the United States*. The school is also known as a leader among women’s colleges for its programs in engineering, agricultural studies, equestrian competitions and more. From making tuition affordable to offering plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and skill building, Sweet Briar is all about offering opportunities to its students! Here are a few interesting aspects of Sweet Briar:
The Great Outdoors: Love nature and being outdoors? Sweet Briar may just be the place for you. With its huge, on-campus greenhouse, students get the opportunity to study agriculture no matter what their major. In fact, all lettuce and about 35% of produce served in their dining hall is grown on campus by students and professors! For more active students, campus is just minutes from the Appalachian Trail, making it easy to go for a day hike or camping trip any time of year.
Women in STEM: Sweet Briar is one of only two women’s schools in the U.S. with an ABET-accredited engineering program. Students can conduct research projects with professors as early as their freshman year, with access to top-of-the-line labs and equipment. Every year, Sweet Briar also hosts the region’s celebration of National Engineers Week, which includes “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” and the National Engineers Week banquet.
Affordability: Everyone gets a merit scholarship if admitted to Sweet Briar – yes, you read that right! Merit scholarships range from $6,000-$15,000 per year. There are additional scholarships awarded for Engineering and Performing Arts as well as for Girl Scouts. On average, out-of-state students pay less than $20,000 per year, including room and board!
Equestrians Welcome: Sweet Briar has its own on campus horse stable! All students can take riding lessons, whether they’ve never stood near a horse or have competed in shows since childhood. You can even bring your own horse to campus!
For female students, Sweet Briar is a great option for a tight-knit community in the heart of beautiful rural Virginia. No matter where prospective students live in the country, they are eligible for a visit reimbursement (also known as a “fly-in” program), so there’s no downside to giving Sweet Briar a closer look!
*US News & World Report, 2019, 2021 and 2023
