Babson vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Babson College in Wellesley, MA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Babson College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (3,932 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Babson College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Babson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Babson College 15:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Babson vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Babson 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 Babson ($22,469 vs. $32,019).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 5.8% lower than at Babson College ($20,308 vs. $21,550).
• Swarthmore College is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Babson (about $8,342 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at Swarthmore than at Babson College (about $8,342 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Babson College (57% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 27.9% larger than aid received by Babson College students ($61,634 vs. $48,173).

Babson vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Babson 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 Babson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 70 points higher than at Babson (1460).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Babson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 1390/1530; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 31/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Babson - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Babson Jan 3, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Babson (3.79).
• Babson has a higher acceptance rate (17.1%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Babson vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Babson vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Babson 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 Babson College's (90%).
• Graduates from Babson College earn a median of about $42,700 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,500 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Babson graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Babson graduates ($201 vs. $268).
• More Babson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)

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.