Davidson vs. Swarthmore

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

Davidson College
Swarthmore College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Swarthmore (7.5% admitted vs 13.4%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1470.
  • Cheaper after aid: Swarthmore. Average net price is $22,469 vs $27,720 at Davidson.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs Swarthmore 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs Swarthmore $65,800 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Swarthmore College
Acceptance rate
Swarthmore more selective
Davidson13.4%
Swarthmore7.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Swarthmore higher
Davidson1400-1530
Swarthmore1490-1560
Average net price
Swarthmore $5,251 less
Davidson$27,720
Swarthmore$22,469
In-state tuition
Davidson $1,084 less
Davidson$64,410
Swarthmore$65,494
Out-of-state tuition
Davidson $1,084 less
Davidson$64,410
Swarthmore$65,494
Graduation rate
Swarthmore +3 pts
Davidson92%
Swarthmore95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Swarthmore +$2,300
Davidson$63,500
Swarthmore$65,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • Swarthmore 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • Swarthmore 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • Swarthmore #40

Comparable Facts

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

Davidson College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,869 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 15.8% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,100 vs. $20,308).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Swarthmore than at Davidson College (about $1,084 more per year; $65,494 vs. $64,410).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Swarthmore College (65% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 19.1% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($61,634 vs. $51,755).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Swarthmore than at Davidson (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and Swarthmore.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Swarthmore average a 3.9 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at Davidson (3.81).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($175 vs. $201).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation (89% 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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