Reed vs. Swarthmore

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

Reed College
Swarthmore College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Swarthmore (7.5% admitted vs 24.6%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1410.
  • Cheaper after aid: Swarthmore. Average net price is $22,469 vs $30,953 at Reed.
  • Graduation: Reed 80% vs Swarthmore 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Reed $47,200 vs Swarthmore $65,800 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Reed College Swarthmore College
Acceptance rate
Swarthmore more selective
Reed24.6%
Swarthmore7.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Swarthmore higher
Reed1290-1520
Swarthmore1490-1560
Average net price
Swarthmore $8,484 less
Reed$30,953
Swarthmore$22,469
In-state tuition
Swarthmore $3,856 less
Reed$69,350
Swarthmore$65,494
Out-of-state tuition
Swarthmore $3,856 less
Reed$69,350
Swarthmore$65,494
Graduation rate
Swarthmore +15 pts
Reed80%
Swarthmore95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Swarthmore +$18,600
Reed$47,200
Swarthmore$65,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

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

Check my chances at Reed Check my chances at Swarthmore
  • Applied
  • Reed 9,431
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Reed 2,321
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance rate
  • Reed 24.6%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Reed 13.1%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Reed 1410
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Reed 32
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Reed 4.0
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • Reed A/A+
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions standards
  • Reed Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Reed High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Reed 1290-1520
  • Swarthmore 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • Reed 30-34
  • Swarthmore 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Reed Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Reed
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Reed $69,350
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Reed $69,350
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & board
  • Reed $17,660
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average net price
  • Reed $30,953
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average grant aid
  • Reed $55,445
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Reed 58%
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Graduation rate
  • Reed 80%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Reed $47,200
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Reed 84%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Reed $16,000
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Reed $165
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Reed 9:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Reed
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Foreign Languages (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Location
  • Reed Portland, OR
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Reed Large City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Reed 1,358
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Reed Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Reed #77
  • Swarthmore #40

Comparable Facts

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

Swarthmore College is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 1,358 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Reed College is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Reed College 9:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 13% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,660 vs. $20,308).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Reed than at Swarthmore College (about $3,856 more per year; $69,350 vs. $65,494).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reed College than at Swarthmore College (58% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 11.2% larger than aid received by Reed College students ($61,634 vs. $55,445).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Swarthmore than at Reed (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Reed and Swarthmore.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Reed average a 4.0 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Reed vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($16,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($165 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Reed students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 84%).

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.

Reed College
Swarthmore College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges