Barnard vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Barnard College 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.

Barnard College
Swarthmore College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Barnard vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard ($22,469 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 6.5% lower than at Barnard College ($20,308 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $4,394 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Barnard than at Swarthmore College (about $4,394 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Barnard College (57% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($63,131 vs. $61,634).

Barnard vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 10 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Barnard vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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 Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $1,653 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($17,847 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($184 vs. $201).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.