“A liberal arts college uniquely combined with a full conservatory of music — where students pursue intense academic study alongside world-class musical training.”
Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin — one of very few institutions in the US to fully combine a rigorous liberal arts curriculum with a professional-level conservatory under a single undergraduate roof. Founded in 1847, Lawrence is one of the oldest co-educational institutions in the US and has built a national reputation for academic quality, close faculty-student relationships (7:1 ratio), and a uniquely interdisciplinary culture that encourages students to pursue music and liberal arts simultaneously. The Lawrence University Conservatory of Music is nationally regarded as one of the finest undergraduate music conservatories in the country, offering degrees in Performance, Music Education, Composition, Theory, and Jazz/Contemporary Improvisation. The signature "double degree" — a five-year program simultaneously awarding a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts — draws students who refuse to choose between intellectual and artistic ambition. Outside the conservatory, Lawrence's liberal arts curriculum produces graduates with exceptional critical thinking and communication skills who enter law, medicine, graduate school, business, and public service. The Fox River flows along the campus edge, and Appleton's vibrant small-city culture — galleries, restaurants, theatre, and proximity to Green Bay — provides a lively complement to campus life. 99% of Lawrence students receive financial support, with international students fully eligible for scholarships and need-based aid.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
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Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision I
Binding ED. Auditions for Conservatory applicants scheduled early.
Early Decision II
Binding ED II.
Regular Decision
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$57,000
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
One of the premier undergraduate music conservatories in the US. Offers B.Mus. in Performance, Music Education, Composition, and Theory; B.M.A. in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation; and the unique 5-year Double Degree (B.Mus. + B.A.).
Covers Biology, Psychology, Government, Economics, Linguistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, History, and more. Integrates with the Conservatory for interdisciplinary study.
5 years
Lawrence's signature 5-year double degree simultaneously awards a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in a second field. Rare among US institutions, this program attracts students with deep musical talent who also want rigorous academic breadth — a powerful combination for careers in music performance, academia, medicine, law, or business.
4 years
Studio-intensive performance training in a conservatory setting with professional faculty. Major instruments include piano, strings, voice, winds, brass, percussion, and guitar.
4 years
Combines rigorous jazz theory, ensemble performance, and improvisation with liberal arts breadth. One of the few B.M.A. jazz programs offered at a liberal arts college.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $56,982
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
