Hunter vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between CUNY Hunter College and Swarthmore College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

CUNY Hunter College
Swarthmore College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Hunter Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Hunter No
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Hunter No
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Hunter No
  • Swarthmore No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Hunter Yes
  • Swarthmore No

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Hunter vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College than Swarthmore ($4,431 vs. $22,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 41.7% lower than at Swarthmore College ($11,832 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 787.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $58,112 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 327.2% higher at Swarthmore than at CUNY Hunter College (about $50,162 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Swarthmore College (87% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 531.8% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($61,634 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 270 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSwarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Hunter vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $7,952 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($11,548 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($119 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 56%)

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.