Clark University vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Clark University or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clark University 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.

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Clark University vs. Swarthmore College comparison
Clark University Swarthmore College College 3 College 4
Clark University Swarthmore College
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Overview

Clark University Swarthmore
Location Worcester, MA Swarthmore, PA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,770 1,625
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #154 #40
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarku.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clark University Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $52,000 $58,928
Tuition (Out of State) $52,000 $58,928
Room & Board $11,164 $18,026
Avg Net Price $32,053 $20,715
Avg Grant Aid $29,716 $47,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 63%

Admission

Clark University Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,787 14,707
Admitted 4,422 1,019
Acceptance Rate 50.3% 6.9%
Enrolled % 15.9% 42.5%
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 28/33 32/35
SAT Range 1250/1430 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

Clark University Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

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 45% 49%
% Women 55% 51%
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 37% 10%
% Out-of-State 57% 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 (3,770 students vs. 1,625 students)

Clark University vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Swarthmore?

  • Swarthmore College is 13.3% more expensive to attend than Clark University for in-state tuition ($58,928.00 vs. $52,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.3% higher at Swarthmore than Clark University ($58,928.00 vs. $52,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Clark University ($20,715 vs. $32,053)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 61.5% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($11,164 vs. $18,026)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clark University than Swarthmore College (96% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 60.5% larger than aid received Clark University ($47,703 vs. $29,716)

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 (50.3%) 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/