BU vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston University
Swarthmore College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 BU ($22,469 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston University are 6.3% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,020 vs. $20,308).
  • Boston University is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $2,608 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at BU than at Swarthmore College (about $2,608 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Boston University (57% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 0.3% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($61,848 vs. $61,634).

BU vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 50 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

BU vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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 University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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.