BC vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston College
Swarthmore College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

BC vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC 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 BC ($22,469 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 6.9% lower than at Swarthmore College ($18,916 vs. $20,308).
  • Boston College is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $5,208 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at BC than at Swarthmore College (about $5,208 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Boston College (57% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 8.2% larger than aid received by Boston College students ($61,634 vs. $56,971).

BC vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC 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 BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 40 points higher than at BC (1490).
  • Incoming BC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Swarthmore (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at BC (3.86).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (16.4%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

BC vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC 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 Boston College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $25,100 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($196 vs. $201).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.