Colorado College vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Colorado College or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado College 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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Colorado College vs. Swarthmore College comparison
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Colorado College Swarthmore College
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Overview

Colorado College Swarthmore
Location Colorado Springs, CO Swarthmore, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,173 1,644
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #72 #41
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coloradocollege.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado College Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $67,458 $61,992
Tuition (Out of State) $67,458 $61,992
Room & Board $15,228 $18,964
Avg Net Price $35,281 $17,930
Avg Grant Aid $47,947 $62,084
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 53%

Admission

Colorado College Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,532 14,287
Admitted 1,509 992
Acceptance Rate 20% 6.9%
Enrolled % 34.3% 41.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 33/34
SAT Range 1365/1520 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, 2025 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

Colorado College Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Colorado College Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 88% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $211 $201

Diversity

Colorado College Swarthmore
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 1% 1%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 42%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 9% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 8%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Colorado College Swarthmore
% In-State 19% 10%
% Out-of-State 77% 75%

Campus

Colorado College Swarthmore
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Colorado College is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,173 students vs. 1,644 students)

Colorado College vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado College or Swarthmore?

  • Colorado College is 8.8% more expensive to attend than Swarthmore for in-state tuition ($67,458.00 vs. $61,992.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.8% higher at Colorado College than Swarthmore College ($67,458.00 vs. $61,992.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Colorado College ($17,930 vs. $35,281)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado College are 24.5% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($15,228 vs. $18,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado College than Swarthmore College (56% vs. 53%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 29.5% larger than aid received Colorado College ($62,084 vs. $47,947)

Colorado College vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado College or Swarthmore? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Swarthmore or Colorado College .

  • Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Swarthmore (3.9)
  • Colorado College has a higher acceptance rate (20%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Colorado College vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado College 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 Colorado College.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Colorado College (95% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn on average $19,800 more per year than Colorado College graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $46,000)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Colorado College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,500)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Colorado College graduates. ($201 vs. $211)
  • More Colorado College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/