Sarah Lawrence vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sarah Lawrence College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,798 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Sarah Lawrence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sarah Lawrence College 10:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence ($22,469 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sarah Lawrence College are 9.3% lower than at Swarthmore College ($18,426 vs. $20,308).
• Sarah Lawrence College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $1,368 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at Swarthmore College (about $1,368 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Swarthmore College (90% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 58.7% larger than aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students ($61,634 vs. $38,838).

Sarah Lawrence vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 190 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Sarah Lawrence).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Swarthmore - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Typical fall application deadline: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Sarah Lawrence (3.75).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Sarah Lawrence vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $21,700 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($13,500 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($139 vs. $201).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sarah Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.