Brandeis University vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Brandeis University or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Brandeis University or Swarthmore is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Brandeis University vs. Swarthmore College comparison
Brandeis University Swarthmore College College 3 College 4
Brandeis University Swarthmore College
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Overview

Brandeis University Swarthmore
Location Waltham, MA Swarthmore, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,581 1,625
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #90 #40
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website brandeis.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Brandeis University Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $61,724 $58,928
Tuition (Out of State) $61,724 $58,928
Room & Board $17,092 $18,026
Avg Net Price $45,565 $20,715
Avg Grant Aid $33,733 $47,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 64% 63%

Admission

Brandeis University Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,917 14,707
Admitted 3,908 1,019
Acceptance Rate 39.4% 6.9%
Enrolled % 25.2% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition High Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 32/35
SAT Range 1370/1530 1440/1560
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 4, 2024

Academics

Brandeis University Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Brandeis University Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 91% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,700 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $201

Diversity

Brandeis University Swarthmore
% Men 43% 49%
% Women 57% 51%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 47% 42%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 8%
% International 20% 11%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

Brandeis University Swarthmore
% In-State 22% 10%
% Out-of-State 57% 75%

Campus

Brandeis University Swarthmore
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Brandeis University is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (5,581 students vs. 1,625 students)

Brandeis University vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brandeis University or Swarthmore?

  • Brandeis University is 4.7% more expensive to attend than Swarthmore for in-state tuition ($61,724.00 vs. $58,928.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Brandeis University than Swarthmore College ($61,724.00 vs. $58,928.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Brandeis University ($20,715 vs. $45,565)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brandeis University are 5.5% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($17,092 vs. $18,026)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Brandeis University than Swarthmore College (64% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 41.4% larger than aid received Brandeis University ($47,703 vs. $33,733)

Brandeis University vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Brandeis University or Swarthmore? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Swarthmore or Brandeis University .

  • The average SAT score at Swarthmore College (1431) is 71 points higher than at Brandeis University (1360)
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Brandeis University (31)
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Brandeis University (3.84)
  • Brandeis University has a higher acceptance rate (39.4%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Brandeis University vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Brandeis University or Swarthmore? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Swarthmore and Brandeis University.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Brandeis University (95% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Brandeis University earn on average $900 more per year than Swarthmore graduates after ten years. ($66,700 vs. $65,800)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Brandeis University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Brandeis University graduates. ($201 vs. $279)
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brandeis University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/