Dartmouth vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dartmouth College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dartmouth College 7:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Dartmouth vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth College than Swarthmore ($20,322 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dartmouth College are 1.5% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,999 vs. $20,308).
• Dartmouth College is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $2,774 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Dartmouth than at Swarthmore College (about $2,774 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Dartmouth College (57% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($67,471 vs. $61,634).

Dartmouth vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 10 points higher than at Swarthmore (1530).
• Incoming Dartmouth students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Swarthmore (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 1500/1570; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dartmouth College 33/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dartmouth - Required; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have the same average high school GPA (3.9) as students at Swarthmore (3.9).
• Swarthmore has a higher acceptance rate (7.5%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.1% at Dartmouth vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Dartmouth vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dartmouth 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).

• The graduation rate at Dartmouth is the same as at Swarthmore College (95% vs. 95%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $38,200 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $6,039 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($13,461 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($139 vs. $201).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 87%)

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.