Bryn Mawr vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Bryn Mawr College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,679 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bryn Mawr College is located in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bryn Mawr College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bryn Mawr College 8:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Bryn Mawr vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bryn Mawr 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 Bryn Mawr ($22,469 vs. $33,221).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bryn Mawr College are 4.5% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,400 vs. $20,308).
• Bryn Mawr College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $426 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Bryn Mawr than at Swarthmore College (about $426 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at Swarthmore College (72% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Bryn Mawr College students ($61,634 vs. $50,029).

Bryn Mawr vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bryn Mawr 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 Bryn Mawr.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 130 points higher than at Bryn Mawr (1400).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Bryn Mawr).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bryn Mawr College 29/33; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bryn Mawr - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Bryn Mawr (3.85).
• Bryn Mawr has a higher acceptance rate (29.4%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Bryn Mawr vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Bryn Mawr vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bryn Mawr 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 Bryn Mawr College's (87%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than Bryn Mawr graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $61,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bryn Mawr graduates ($201 vs. $268).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bryn Mawr students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 79%)

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.