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Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Suburb

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Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$23,149What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
7%
Graduation rate
93%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,613
In-state tuition
$65,494Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$65,494
SAT midpoint
1,495
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$80,257Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$23,149

Better than 47% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

93%

Better than 97% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$80,257

Better than 91% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$17,500

Better than 89% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$84,103

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$23,149

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Swarthmore College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time93%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return94%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$17,500
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$80,257

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Swarthmore College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer and Information Sciences, General$103,68673
Economics$76,94476
Mathematics$72,65649
Biology, General$41,12220
Political Science and Government$40,44937
Engineering, GeneralNot reported33
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported29
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reported18
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported17
Sociology and AnthropologyNot reported16
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported16
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported15
Education, GeneralNot reported14
Education, OtherNot reported12
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported11
PhilosophyNot reported10
ChemistryNot reported10
PhysicsNot reported9
Classical and Ancient StudiesNot reported7
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported7
MusicNot reported7
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported7
AnthropologyNot reported6
HistoryNot reported6
Astronomy and AstrophysicsNot reported6
Cognitive ScienceNot reported6
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Area StudiesNot reported5
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported5
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported5
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported5
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported4
Peace Studies and Conflict ResolutionNot reported4
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
International/Globalization StudiesNot reported2
Social Sciences, OtherNot reported2
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, OtherNot reported2
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
DanceNot reported1
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported1
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported1
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and AnalysisNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
SociologyNot reportedNot reported
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Public HealthNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Physical Sciences, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
CriminologyNot reportedNot reported
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Design and Applied ArtsNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Applied MathematicsNot reportedNot reported
Psychology, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Biological and Physical SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Sustainability StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Public Policy AnalysisNot reportedNot reported
Visual and Performing Arts, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural EducationNot reportedNot reported
Urban Studies/AffairsNot reportedNot reported
LiteratureNot reportedNot reported
Philosophy and Religious Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Mathematics and Computer ScienceNot reportedNot reported
English Language and Literature/Letters, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reportedNot reported
ArcheologyNot reportedNot reported

All 69 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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