Rutgers vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Swarthmore College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Rutgers vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Swarthmore ($20,522 vs. $22,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 22.6% lower than at Swarthmore College ($15,714 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 265.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $47,565 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.9% higher at Swarthmore than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $28,053 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (57% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 268.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($61,634 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Swarthmore? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Swarthmore and Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 120 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Rutgers vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Swarthmore? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $400 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $2,715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($201 vs. $229).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

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.