Bentley vs. Swarthmore

Bentley University and Swarthmore College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bentley University
Swarthmore College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Swarthmore (7.5% admitted vs 45.1%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1360.
  • Cheaper after aid: Swarthmore. Average net price is $22,469 vs $45,802 at Bentley.
  • Graduation: Bentley 88% vs Swarthmore 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bentley $87,200 vs Swarthmore $65,800 (median).
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Key differences

Bentley University Swarthmore College
Acceptance rate
Swarthmore more selective
Bentley45.1%
Swarthmore7.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Swarthmore higher
Bentley1280-1430
Swarthmore1490-1560
Average net price
Swarthmore $23,333 less
Bentley$45,802
Swarthmore$22,469
In-state tuition
Bentley $4,494 less
Bentley$61,000
Swarthmore$65,494
Out-of-state tuition
Bentley $4,494 less
Bentley$61,000
Swarthmore$65,494
Graduation rate
Swarthmore +7 pts
Bentley88%
Swarthmore95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Bentley +$21,400
Bentley$87,200
Swarthmore$65,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bentley A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Bentley Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Bentley 1280-1430
  • Swarthmore 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • Bentley 28-31
  • Swarthmore 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average net price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average grant aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Bentley $274
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • Swarthmore #40

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, MA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bentley University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (5,333 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bentley University are 0.8% lower than at Swarthmore College ($20,140 vs. $20,308).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at Swarthmore than at Bentley University (about $4,494 more per year; $65,494 vs. $61,000).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Swarthmore College (88% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 83% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($61,634 vs. $33,673).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Swarthmore than at Bentley (34 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Bentley and Swarthmore.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Swarthmore average a 3.9 high school GPA, 0.15 higher than at Bentley (3.75).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Bentley graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,500).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bentley graduates ($201 vs. $274).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation (92% vs. 87%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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