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Swarthmore College

#1 Best Education Colleges in Pennsylvania
Private nonprofit Swarthmore, PA · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A+ Selectivity A+ Graduation A+ Diversity
Graduation Rate
93% A+
Most students who enroll finish their degree here
Earnings (10yr)
$80,257 A
Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$23,149 D+
35% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
7% A+
Rejects about 93 of every 100 applicants
Earnings +97% vs avg
Graduation +63% vs avg
Net Price 35% vs avg
Mobility Top 21%

Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 28.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Pennsylvania.

28.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $28.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,579,287.

What The Data Says

  1. A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 97% more than the national college median.

  3. A 93% graduation rate — 63% above the national average.

  4. Inventor rate in the top 16% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.

  5. Social mobility rate of 2.29% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
1.6%
Top 16%
Patents
28
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
6
Downstream influence

Why Swarthmore College Matters

Swarthmore College is a private liberal arts college in Swarthmore, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Liberal Arts College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
Enrollment
1,613
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT, Biology & Biomedical, Mathematics & Statistics

Why students choose Swarthmore College

Elite STEM ecosystem
Engineering, computing, and the sciences dominate its programs
Entrepreneurial, inventive students
Above-average inventor and patent activity
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Highly selective peer group
Surrounded by exceptionally high-achieving students
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 4% of colleges
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B
Top 21% overall
A
Earnings
$80,257 median
B-
Value
3.5× net price
D+
Affordability
$23,149/yr net
A+
Graduation
93% graduate
B
Social Mobility
2.3% climb Q1→Q5
A+
Selectivity
7% admit rate
A+
Diversity
0.82 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →
1
Can I Get In?

Admissions

Highly selective
7% admit rate

Highly selective — admits about 7% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1490–1560. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.

Check your odds →
2
Can I Afford It?

Net price + aid

D+
$23,149/yr net

Students pay about $23,149 a year after grants and scholarships — 35% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.

See cost & aid →
3
What Happens After?

Earnings + debt

A
$80,257 median

Graduates earn a median of $80,257 ten years after enrolling — 97% above the typical college, against $17,500 in median debt.

See outcomes →
4
Does It Change Lives?

Mobility + social capital

B
2.3% climb

Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 21% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.84 economic connectedness).

See mobility →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of just 7%, Swarthmore College is a great fit for students who are academically driven and ready to be challenged. The school attracts those who are passionate about their studies, especially in areas like Social Sciences, Computer Science and IT, Biology, and the Visual and Performing Arts. The strong emphasis on a well-rounded education means students here are not just focusing on their major but are encouraged to explore a variety of disciplines, which can lead to a richer college experience.

Looking ahead, graduates from Swarthmore can expect substantial earnings, with a median income of $80,257 ten years after they leave. This is a significant figure that reflects both the quality of education and the strong alumni network that can support career growth. The affordability aspect is also noteworthy; while college can be expensive, the net price after aid is about $23,149, which makes it more accessible for many families. This balance of cost and outcome is crucial for students considering their long-term financial futures.

In terms of financial health, students graduate with a median debt of $17,500, which is relatively manageable compared to other institutions. Those who thrive at Swarthmore tend to be self-motivated and engaged, finding ways to not only excel academically but also to make the most of the college experience through extracurricular activities and community involvement. This school cultivates a culture where hard work and curiosity can lead to both personal and professional success.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Swarthmore College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Swarthmore College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 7%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,534. The graduation rate is roughly 93%.

Acceptance Rate
7%
Retention Rate
94%
SAT Average
1534
ACT Midpoint
34
SAT Range
1490–1560
ACT Range
33–35
Full-Time Faculty
94%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$14,961
Student–Faculty Ratio
8:1
Diversity Index
0.82
First-Gen Students
27%
Applicants
14,707
Admitted
1,019

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Swarthmore College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Swarthmore College is $65,494, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,149. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,690 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$65,494
Out-of-State
$65,494
Avg Net Price
$23,149
Median Debt
$17,500
Pell Grant Rate
19%
Federal Loan Rate
11%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$7,690
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,951
Family Income $48K–$75K
$11,444
Family Income $110K+
$47,544

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Swarthmore College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Swarthmore College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Swarthmore College earn a median of $80,257, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$56,211
8 Years
$72,890
10 Years
$80,257
Debt-to-Earnings
0.22x
Earning > $25K
62%

Earnings Trajectory

$56,211 6yr $72,890 8yr $80,257 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (371)
91%
100% (371)
91%
100% (371)
91%
100% (371)
91%

How Swarthmore Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation93%Earnings 10yr$80KNet Price$23KRetention94%Median Debt$18KPell Grant Rate19%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$5K$30-48K$11K$48-75K$48K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%4.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%49.1%MOBILITY2.29%

College ROI Calculator

Is Swarthmore College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Swarthmore College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,149/year ($92,596 total). Graduates earn $80,257 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,671,883 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,579,287 (28.9× your investment). The median debt is $17,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 93% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$92,596
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,671,883
Net Return
$2,579,287
ROI Multiple
28.9×
Cost Per Year
$23,149
Median Debt
$17,500
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
93%
Explore all Swarthmore College ROI scenarios

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Swarthmore College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Swarthmore College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.29%, among the highest in the country. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 49.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $135,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.29%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
49.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
4.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$184,641
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Swarthmore College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Swarthmore College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.84
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
14.1%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Swarthmore College produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 16% nationally), with 28 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
1.63%
Top 16% nationally
Patents Produced
28
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
6
Downstream influence

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$2,596,000
Investment Income
$-87,310,000

Top Programs

The fields Swarthmore College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Top Careers

Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Swarthmore College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Swarthmore College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 7%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,534. The graduation rate is roughly 93%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Swarthmore College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Swarthmore College is $65,494, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,149. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,690 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,500 in federal student loans.

Is Swarthmore College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Swarthmore College earn a median of $80,257, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does Swarthmore College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Swarthmore College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.29%, among the highest in the country. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 49.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $135,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Swarthmore College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Swarthmore College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.84, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Compare Swarthmore College

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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