SUNY Poly vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,733 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY Polytechnic Institute is located in Utica, NY (Rural Fringe setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

SUNY Poly vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Swarthmore ($14,782 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are 18.3% lower than at Swarthmore College ($16,584 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 659.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Poly (about $56,869 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $8,625.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 208.7% higher at Swarthmore than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (about $44,279 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $21,215.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than at Swarthmore College (100% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 637.5% larger than aid received by SUNY Polytechnic Institute students ($61,634 vs. $8,357).

SUNY Poly vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 330 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1200).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at SUNY Poly).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 1025/1370; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22/30; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Poly - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at SUNY Poly (3.7).
• SUNY Poly has a higher acceptance rate (81.3%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at SUNY Poly vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

SUNY Poly vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute's (47%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $53,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Polytechnic Institute graduates have a $2,915 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($16,585 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Poly graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($171 vs. $201).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 63%)

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.