Colgate vs. Swarthmore

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

Colgate University
Swarthmore College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Swarthmore (7.5% admitted vs 13.9%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1490.
  • Cheaper after aid: Swarthmore. Average net price is $22,469 vs $28,736 at Colgate.
  • Graduation: Colgate 92% vs Swarthmore 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colgate $75,300 vs Swarthmore $65,800 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Colgate University Swarthmore College
Acceptance rate
Swarthmore more selective
Colgate13.9%
Swarthmore7.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Swarthmore higher
Colgate1430-1540
Swarthmore1490-1560
Average net price
Swarthmore $6,267 less
Colgate$28,736
Swarthmore$22,469
In-state tuition
Swarthmore $4,812 less
Colgate$70,306
Swarthmore$65,494
Out-of-state tuition
Swarthmore $4,812 less
Colgate$70,306
Swarthmore$65,494
Graduation rate
Swarthmore +3 pts
Colgate92%
Swarthmore95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Colgate +$9,500
Colgate$75,300
Swarthmore$65,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

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

Check my chances at Colgate Check my chances at Swarthmore
  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Colgate 1430-1540
  • Swarthmore 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • Colgate 33-34
  • Swarthmore 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average net price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average grant aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Swarthmore #40

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Colgate University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (3,211 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 13.3% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,610 vs. $20,308).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Colgate than at Swarthmore College (about $4,812 more per year; $70,306 vs. $65,494).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Colgate University (57% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($61,634 vs. $58,334).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Swarthmore than at Colgate (34 vs. 33, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colgate and Swarthmore.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Swarthmore average a 3.9 high school GPA, 0.13 higher than at Colgate (3.77).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $3,375 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($16,125 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($166 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 86%).

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.

Colgate University
Swarthmore College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges