Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Haverford College Amherst Williams Vassar Bryn Mawr Johns Hopkins Pomona Cornell Carnegie Mellon Georgetown Penn Middlebury| Clark University | Swarthmore College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
| Location | Worcester, MA | Swarthmore, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 4,124 | 1,644 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #153 | #41 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarku.edu | swarthmore.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,760 | $61,992 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,760 | $61,992 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,690 | $18,964 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,767 | $17,930 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,916 | $62,084 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 53% |
Admission |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,730 | 14,287 | ||
| Admitted | 4,471 | 992 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 41.7% | 6.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.1% | 41.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 33/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1240/1400 | 1460/1560 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 4, 2026 |
Academics |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
| Graduation Rate | 80% | 95% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,100 | $65,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 87% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $201 |
Diversity |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 23% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 20% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 57% | 42% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 8% | ||
| % International | 15% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 3% |
Students |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 36% | 10% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 60% | 75% | ||
Campus |
Clark University | Swarthmore | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Clark University is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (4,124 students vs. 1,644 students)
Clark University vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Swarthmore?
- Swarthmore College is 13.2% more expensive to attend than Clark University for in-state tuition ($61,992.00 vs. $54,760.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at Swarthmore than Clark University ($61,992.00 vs. $54,760.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Clark University ($17,930 vs. $32,767)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 62.2% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($11,690 vs. $18,964)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clark University than Swarthmore College (97% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 94.5% larger than aid received Clark University ($62,084 vs. $31,916)
Clark University vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clark University or Swarthmore? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Swarthmore or Clark University .
- Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Clark University (3.69)
- Clark University has a higher acceptance rate (41.7%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)
Clark University vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clark University 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 Clark University.
- The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Clark University (95% vs. 80%)
- Graduates from Swarthmore College earn on average $15,700 more per year than Clark University graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $50,100)
- Swarthmore College students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clark University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,000)
- Swarthmore graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Clark University graduates. ($201 vs. $279)
- More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clark University 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/