Bryn Mawr vs. Swarthmore

Bryn Mawr College and Swarthmore College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Bryn Mawr College
Swarthmore College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Swarthmore (7.5% admitted vs 29.4%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1400.
  • Cheaper after aid: Swarthmore. Average net price is $22,469 vs $33,221 at Bryn Mawr.
  • Graduation: Bryn Mawr 87% vs Swarthmore 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Bryn Mawr $61,500 vs Swarthmore $65,800 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Bryn Mawr College Swarthmore College
Acceptance rate
Swarthmore more selective
Bryn Mawr29.4%
Swarthmore7.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Swarthmore higher
Bryn Mawr1280-1510
Swarthmore1490-1560
Average net price
Swarthmore $10,752 less
Bryn Mawr$33,221
Swarthmore$22,469
In-state tuition
Swarthmore $426 less
Bryn Mawr$65,920
Swarthmore$65,494
Out-of-state tuition
Swarthmore $426 less
Bryn Mawr$65,920
Swarthmore$65,494
Graduation rate
Swarthmore +8 pts
Bryn Mawr87%
Swarthmore95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Swarthmore +$4,300
Bryn Mawr$61,500
Swarthmore$65,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Bryn Mawr Check my chances at Swarthmore
  • Applied
  • Bryn Mawr 4,094
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Bryn Mawr 1,205
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance rate
  • Bryn Mawr 29.4%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Bryn Mawr 31.5%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bryn Mawr 1400
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bryn Mawr 31
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Bryn Mawr 3.85
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • Bryn Mawr A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions standards
  • Bryn Mawr Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Bryn Mawr High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Bryn Mawr 1280-1510
  • Swarthmore 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • Bryn Mawr 29-33
  • Swarthmore 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Bryn Mawr Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & board
  • Bryn Mawr $19,400
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average net price
  • Bryn Mawr $33,221
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average grant aid
  • Bryn Mawr $50,029
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Bryn Mawr 72%
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Graduation rate
  • Bryn Mawr 87%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Bryn Mawr $61,500
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Bryn Mawr 79%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Bryn Mawr $26,000
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Bryn Mawr $268
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Bryn Mawr 8:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Bryn Mawr
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Foreign Languages (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Location
  • Bryn Mawr Bryn Mawr, PA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Bryn Mawr Large Suburban
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bryn Mawr 1,679
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Bryn Mawr Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Bryn Mawr #83
  • Swarthmore #40

Comparable Facts

Compare Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bryn Mawr College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,679 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bryn Mawr College is located in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Bryn Mawr College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bryn Mawr College 8:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bryn Mawr College are 4.5% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,400 vs. $20,308).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Bryn Mawr than at Swarthmore College (about $426 more per year; $65,920 vs. $65,494).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at Swarthmore College (72% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Bryn Mawr College students ($61,634 vs. $50,029).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Swarthmore than at Bryn Mawr (34 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Swarthmore average a 3.9 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Bryn Mawr (3.85).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Bryn Mawr vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bryn Mawr graduates ($201 vs. $268).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bryn Mawr students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 79%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Bryn Mawr College
Swarthmore College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges