Davidson vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Davidson College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,869 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Davidson vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Davidson 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 Davidson ($22,469 vs. $27,720).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Davidson College are 15.8% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,100 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Davidson (about $1,084 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Swarthmore than at Davidson College (about $1,084 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,410.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Swarthmore College (65% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 19.1% larger than aid received by Davidson College students ($61,634 vs. $51,755).

Davidson vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Davidson 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 Davidson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 60 points higher than at Davidson (1470).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Davidson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 1400/1530; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Davidson College 31/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Davidson - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Davidson (3.81).
• Davidson has a higher acceptance rate (13.4%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Davidson vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Davidson 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 Davidson College's (92%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Davidson graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $63,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($175 vs. $201).
• More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.