Areas of Academic Focus
Engineering Pinball Machines

Hands-On, Experiential Learning

On our beautiful campus, in close community, we grow into the connected, ethical leaders the world urgently needs. Sweet Briar offers hands-on academics, a focus on women’s leadership, an innovative academic calendar designed for experiential learning, and a deep connection to our land. Together, we learn by doing. In our labs, in our greenhouse, in our barns and on our teams, we shape our community and our future.

Explore Academics at Sweet Briar
2022 Willits Fellow Nikki Adams works in the greenhouse

Human and Environmental Sustainability

On our 2,840 acres, students can explore sustainability, agriculture and other environmental topics. In our vineyard, apiary and greenhouse, they get to practice what they learn.

See all the majors & minors that we offer
Engineering

Engineering, Science and Technology

Nationally, only 13% of U.S. engineers are female. Our engineering program is ABET accredited, which means it meets agreed-upon standards set by professional engineering organizations. We excel at preparing women for the field, through project-based, hands-on learning. This focus, shared by all our STEM majors, is exactly what employers and competitive graduate programs told us they are looking for.

See all the majors & minors that we offer
Sweet Briar College students rehearse for the Fall 2022 Dance Concert

Creativity, Design and the Arts

Sweet Briar has thriving programs in the visual and performing arts, adding vitality to campus life. The College is also neighbor to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, one of the world’s leading residential artists communities that hosts as many 400 visual artists, writers, and composers a year from around the world.

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By the numbers

Women Making History

5.8 

acres of land per student

18 

For the use of our equine riders, we have more than 18 miles of trails as well as a 130-acre on-campus riding center.

1 of 2 

One of only two women’s colleges in the U.S. to offer an ABET-accredited engineering degree program

8 of 10 

Sweet Briar students hold leadership roles in student organizations at twice the rate of other colleges.

2840 

Sweet Briar College’s 2,840-acre campus is located in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

AJ Jenkins

“An all-women’s program lets us have that confidence to speak up, and have our opinions, and know that we’re good before we enter a very male-dominated field.”

AJ Jenkins
Class of 2023, Engineering and Math, with a minor in Theatre

Damarys Rodrigues

“What makes Sweet Briar feel like home to me are the people. The small class sizes allow me to know everyone and to get really close to my professors.”

Damarys Rodrigues
Class of 2024, Art History and English and Creative Writing

Sweet Briar Voices
Sweet Briar in Pictures

The Place We Call Home

Events, Summer Explore Engineering, Summer, Ana Patino, Engineering, Project, High Schoolers, Prospectives, Explore Engineering, Guion

STEM for Everybody

Engineering at Sweet Briar is based on a hands-on, lab-intensive curriculum.

Evelyn Tello in the Summer Honors Student Research

In the Wild

Our 2,840-acre campus is a living laboratory and outdoor classroom.

Student at May 2022 graduation

Women’s Leadership

We forge ethical leaders with the skill, compassion, and vision to create a more just and sustainable world.

Equestrian program at Sweet Briar

Riding and Equestrian Life

Our tradition of riding excellence goes back more than 100 years.

Founders Day

Our Traditions

A longstanding college tradition, Founders’ Day is held in September.

News and Events

Around Campus

Sweet Briar College celebrates 114th Commencement (photo by Cassie Foster Evans).

114th commencement celebrates the Class of 2023

Fortunately for those in attendance, the rain never fell as Sweet Briar College held its 114th Commencement on May 13, 2023.

Keynote speaker Thirii Myint

Sweet Briar Summer: Arts and Writing Retreat Announces Inaugural Keynote Speaker Thirii Myo Kyaw Myint

Sweet Briar College is pleased to announce that award-winning novelist and memoirist Thirii Myo Kyaw Myint will give the keynote speech at the 2023 Sweet Briar Summer: Arts and Writing Retreat being held on campus, June 22-25, 2023.

Presidential Medalist Sita Moses '23 with President Meredith Woo

Meet Presidential Medalist, Sita Moses ’23

On March 22, 2023, Sweet Briar College held its annual Academic Recognition Dinner to celebrate students named to the Dean’s List and the First Year Honors List. We also recognized one member of the senior class as the 2023 Presidential Medalist.

Do you want to be part of the Sweet Briar community? Applying is fast, easy and free.