Swarthmore College combines highly selective admissions with exceptional return performance, ranking in the 96.3rd percentile nationally. With controlled debt levels well below peers and earnings beyond expectations, graduates achieve strong economic outcomes across diverse liberal arts disciplines.
With top-tier performance, reflecting strong long-term earnings relative to educational investment
With typical performance around the national average, reflecting higher costs balanced by strong financial aid
With above average performance, indicating meaningful enrollment of diverse students alongside selective admissions
With above average performance, showing solid economic advancement outcomes
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisSwarthmore College demonstrates strong return on educational investment through exceptional earnings outcomes and manageable debt levels. Graduates earn a median of $80,257 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 93.0rd percentile nationally.
Earnings span from $50,812 at the 25th percentile to $138,207 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career paths with substantial upside potential. The institution generates $3,438 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it in the 68.9th percentile for earnings uplift relative to student demographics.
Students seeking exceptional liberal arts education with strong outcomes in technical fields like computer science and mathematics. Well-suited for academically driven students who thrive in highly selective environments and can navigate rigorous coursework to achieve substantial post-graduation returns.
Swarthmore College admits approximately 6.9% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 14 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Swarthmore among the most selective liberal arts colleges in the United States, falling within the Most Selective category for institutions admitting fewer than 10% of applicants.
The peer median admission rate of 75.6% highlights the stark difference between Swarthmore's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among highly selective liberal arts colleges, Swarthmore's acceptance rate represents exceptional competitiveness.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Swarthmore College's published cost of attendance reaches $80,014 per year, including $62,412 in tuition, $18,964 for room and board, and $760 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays significantly less after financial aid.
The average net price after aid is $18,686, representing financial aid savings of $61,328 annually. This substantial gap between sticker price and actual cost reflects Swarthmore's commitment to need-based financial aid.
Compared to peer institutions with a median net price of $21,812, Swarthmore's net price runs $3,126 lower, indicating competitive affordability despite high published costs. Net prices vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $8,580 for families earning under $30,000 to $47,429 for families earning over $110,000.
The progressive pricing structure ensures that lower-income families pay substantially less than higher-income families. For families considering Swarthmore, the published cost of attendance does not represent what most families actually pay, making financial aid analysis essential for understanding true affordability.
Artificial Intelligence.
65 graduates
Algebra and Number Theory.
35 graduates
Applied Economics.
84 graduates
American Government and Politics (United States).
39 graduates
Education, Other.
17 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bryn Mawr College Higher acceptance rate (24.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 9 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 31% | $75,217 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Swarthmore College hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/swarthmore-college/analysis.
Top-tier return on educational investment
Swarthmore College ranks #186 nationally in Azimuth's analysis, with composite performance at the 88.6th percentile. Located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, this small private liberal arts college maintains highly selective admission with a 6.9% acceptance rate while delivering strong post-graduation outcomes.
The institution enrolls 20.0% Pell-eligible students and 26.9% first-generation students, indicating meaningful access alongside selectivity. Graduates earn $3,438 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 68.9th percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $80,257 ten years after enrollment, placing Swarthmore in the 93.0th percentile for long-term earnings. With SAT scores at the 99.9th percentile and ACT scores at the 99.9th percentile, admitted students represent exceptionally high academic achievement.
The combination of selective admissions, strong academic preparation, and substantial earnings outcomes positions Swarthmore as a high-performing liberal arts institution delivering meaningful economic returns.
This level of selectivity means that even students with outstanding academic credentials face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many applicants who would excel at Swarthmore do not receive admission due to the sheer volume of highly qualified candidates competing for limited spots.
For this reason, students considering Swarthmore should build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic rigor and post-graduation outcomes. Treating Swarthmore as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy.
Students should expect that admission success depends on factors beyond test scores and grades, including essays, recommendations, and demonstrated fit with the college's academic culture.
Swarthmore College graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth across career stages. Median earnings rise from $56,211 six years after enrollment to $72,890 at eight years and $80,257 at ten years, representing 42.8% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes reflect data from 162 graduates in the ten-year cohort, providing reliable confidence in reported figures. Graduates earn $3,438 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Swarthmore in the 68.9th percentile for earnings uplift.
The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, with outcomes ranging from $50,812 at the 25th percentile to $138,207 at the 75th percentile. This 2.7:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles reflects differences in program choice and career trajectory, with technical fields like Artificial Intelligence and Algebra and Number Theory driving the highest outcomes.
Approximately 19.1% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education. Compared to peer institutions with a median of $50,412, Swarthmore graduates earn $29,845 more annually, demonstrating substantial relative advantage in post-graduation outcomes.
Swarthmore College offers five bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for evaluation. Artificial Intelligence ranks #3 nationally and #2 in Pennsylvania, producing 65 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $157,852 and a value score of 99.0.
Algebra and Number Theory ranks #4 nationally and #1 in Pennsylvania, graduating 35 students with median earnings of $125,015 and a value score of 98.6. Applied Economics ranks #25 nationally and #2 in Pennsylvania, graduating 84 students with median earnings of $105,566.
American Government and Politics ranks #6 nationally and #2 in Pennsylvania, with 39 graduates earning $80,009. Biology, General represents the institution's lowest-earning program at $25,194 but maintains substantial enrollment with 39 graduates.
All five programs hold flagship status at Swarthmore, indicating the institution's concentrated strength in its core academic offerings. The combination of top national rankings and strong value scores demonstrates program quality across multiple disciplines.
Gettysburg College Higher acceptance rate (40.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 100 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 48% | $71,517 | Compare |
Dickinson College Higher acceptance rate (36.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 100 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 43% | $70,204 | Compare |
Binghamton University Higher acceptance rate (30.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 38% | $80,596 | Compare |
University Of Rochester Higher acceptance rate (28.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 36% | $79,042 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saint Xavier University Similar quality tier (#186 ranked) | IL | 86% | $58,656 | #186 | Compare |
Amherst College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#188 ranked) | MA | 10% | $77,644 | #188 | Compare |
Williams College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#190 ranked) | MA | 10% | $88,665 | #190 | Compare |
Illinois Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#205 ranked) | IL | 55% | $82,592 | #205 | Compare |
Wellesley College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#208 ranked) | MA | 14% | $84,803 | #208 | Compare |
