Penn vs. Swarthmore

University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn (5.4% admitted vs 7.5%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1530.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $23,570 at Penn vs $22,469 at Swarthmore. Penn in-state tuition is about $3,192 more per year.
  • Graduation: Penn 96% vs Swarthmore 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Penn $123,600 vs Swarthmore $65,800 (median).
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Key differences

University of Pennsylvania Swarthmore College
Acceptance rate
Penn more selective
Penn5.4%
Swarthmore7.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn higher
Penn1510-1570
Swarthmore1490-1560
Average net price
About even
Penn$23,570
Swarthmore$22,469
In-state tuition
Swarthmore $3,192 less
Penn$68,686
Swarthmore$65,494
Out-of-state tuition
Swarthmore $3,192 less
Penn$68,686
Swarthmore$65,494
Graduation rate
Penn +1 pts
Penn96%
Swarthmore95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn +$57,800
Penn$123,600
Swarthmore$65,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Penn 65,226
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Penn 3,523
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance rate
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Penn 68%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn 1540
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn 35
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • Penn 3.95
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • Penn A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions standards
  • Penn Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • Penn Extreme
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • SAT range
  • Penn 1510-1570
  • Swarthmore 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • Penn 34-36
  • Swarthmore 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • Penn Required
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Penn $68,686
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Penn $68,686
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & board
  • Penn $19,174
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average net price
  • Penn $23,570
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average grant aid
  • Penn $65,458
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Penn 51%
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Graduation rate
  • Penn 96%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Penn $123,600
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Penn 84%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Penn $20,633
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Penn $213
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Penn 8:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Location
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Penn Large City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn 29,109
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Penn #23
  • Swarthmore #40

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Pennsylvania 8:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 5.6% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,174 vs. $20,308).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Penn than at Swarthmore College (about $3,192 more per year; $68,686 vs. $65,494).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at University of Pennsylvania (57% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($65,458 vs. $61,634).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Penn than at Swarthmore (35 vs. 34, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are required at Penn, test optional at Swarthmore.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Penn average a 3.95 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68% at Penn vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $1,133 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($201 vs. $213).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn 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.

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