Colgate vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Colgate University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (3,211 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Colgate vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate ($22,469 vs. $28,736).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 13.3% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,610 vs. $20,308).
• Colgate University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $4,812 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Colgate than at Swarthmore College (about $4,812 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Colgate University (57% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by Colgate University students ($61,634 vs. $58,334).

Colgate vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 40 points higher than at Colgate (1490).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Colgate).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Colgate (3.77).
• Colgate has a higher acceptance rate (13.9%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Colgate vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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 Colgate University's (92%).
• Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $3,375 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($16,125 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($166 vs. $201).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)

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.