AU vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between American University and Swarthmore College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Swarthmore College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Swarthmore No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Swarthmore No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

AU vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU 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 AU ($22,469 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 11.5% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,982 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $6,723 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at Swarthmore than at American University (about $6,723 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at Swarthmore College (67% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 69.6% larger than aid received by American University students ($61,634 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU 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 AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 160 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

AU vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU 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 American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($201 vs. $250).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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.