Emory vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Emory University and Swarthmore College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Emory University
Swarthmore College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emory Atlanta, GA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Emory Large Suburban
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Emory 15,175
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Emory Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emory #28
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emory United Methodist
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • Emory Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emory
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • Emory $20,220
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • Emory $27,303
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emory $56,319
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emory 47%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emory 33,450
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Emory 3,562
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emory 10.6%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Emory 40.4%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emory 1510
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emory 33
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emory 3.8
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emory A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emory Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emory Very High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Emory 32/35
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Emory 1470/1550
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emory Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emory Jan 1, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emory 10:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emory
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emory 90%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emory $81,500
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emory 80%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emory $17,233
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emory $178
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emory 39%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • Emory 61%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emory Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emory No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • Emory 41%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • Emory 19%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • Emory 9%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emory 8%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • Emory 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emory 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emory 3%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • Emory 17%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emory 3%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emory 15%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emory 64%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Emory Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Emory No
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Emory Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Emory Yes
  • Swarthmore No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Emory Yes
  • Swarthmore No

Comparable Facts

Compare Emory University in Atlanta, GA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Emory University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (15,175 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emory University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Emory University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emory University 10:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Emory vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emory or Swarthmore? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Emory ($22,469 vs. $27,303).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emory University are 0.4% lower than at Swarthmore College ($20,220 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emory (about $1,214 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,280.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Swarthmore than at Emory University (about $1,214 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,280.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Emory University (57% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 9.4% larger than aid received by Emory University students ($61,634 vs. $56,319).

Emory vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emory or Swarthmore? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Swarthmore and Emory.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 20 points higher than at Emory (1510).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Emory).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Emory University 1470/1550; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Emory University 32/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emory - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emory Jan 1, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Emory (3.8).
  • Emory has a higher acceptance rate (10.6%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.4% at Emory vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Emory vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emory and Swarthmore? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Emory University's (90%).
  • Graduates from Emory University earn a median of about $15,700 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,500 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emory University graduates have a $2,267 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($17,233 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Emory graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($178 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emory students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.