Bentley vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Bentley University or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bentley or Swarthmore is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Babson Haverford College Amherst Williams Northeastern Vassar Fordham Brandeis University BC Providence Bryn Mawr BU
Bentley University vs. Swarthmore College comparison
Bentley University Swarthmore College College 3 College 4
Bentley University Swarthmore College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Bentley Swarthmore
Location Waltham, MA Swarthmore, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,165 1,625
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #40
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bentley.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bentley Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $56,500 $58,928
Tuition (Out of State) $56,500 $58,928
Room & Board $18,660 $18,026
Avg Net Price $44,233 $20,715
Avg Grant Aid $30,733 $47,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 63%

Admission

Bentley Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,662 14,707
Admitted 5,592 1,019
Acceptance Rate 57.9% 6.9%
Enrolled % 20.4% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 28/32 32/35
SAT Range 1258/1420 1440/1560
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

Bentley Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • Mathematics (1%)
  • General Studies (1%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Bentley Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 88% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $87,200 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,500 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $274 $201

Diversity

Bentley Swarthmore
% Men 59% 49%
% Women 41% 51%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 42%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 8%
% International 14% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Bentley Swarthmore
% In-State 41% 10%
% Out-of-State 44% 75%

Campus

Bentley Swarthmore
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bentley University is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (5,165 students vs. 1,625 students)

Bentley vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley or Swarthmore?

  • Swarthmore College is 4.3% more expensive to attend than Bentley for in-state tuition ($58,928.00 vs. $56,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Swarthmore than Bentley University ($58,928.00 vs. $56,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Bentley ($20,715 vs. $44,233)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 3.5% lower than costs at Bentley University ($18,026 vs. $18,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bentley University than Swarthmore College (81% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 55.2% larger than aid received Bentley University ($47,703 vs. $30,733)

Bentley vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley or Swarthmore? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Swarthmore or Bentley .

  • The average SAT score at Swarthmore College (1431) is 187 points higher than at Bentley (1244)
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Bentley (28)
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Bentley (3.75)
  • Bentley has a higher acceptance rate (57.9%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Bentley vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bentley or Swarthmore? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Swarthmore and Bentley.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Bentley University (95% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn on average $21,400 more per year than Swarthmore graduates after ten years. ($87,200 vs. $65,800)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Bentley graduates. ($19,500 vs. $26,500)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Bentley graduates. ($201 vs. $274)
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/