Duquesne University vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Duquesne University or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne University 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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Duquesne University vs. Swarthmore College comparison
Duquesne University Swarthmore College College 3 College 4
Duquesne University Swarthmore College
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Overview

Duquesne University Swarthmore
Location Pittsburgh, PA Swarthmore, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,137 1,644
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #41
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Duquesne University Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $47,146 $61,992
Tuition (Out of State) $47,146 $61,992
Room & Board $15,620 $18,964
Avg Net Price $35,125 $17,930
Avg Grant Aid $27,980 $62,084
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 53%

Admission

Duquesne University Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,112 14,287
Admitted 11,128 992
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 6.9%
Enrolled % 13.3% 41.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 26/31 33/34
SAT Range 1160/1350 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 Aug 15, 2025 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

Duquesne University Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Duquesne University Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 73% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $201

Diversity

Duquesne University Swarthmore
% Men 13% 0%
% Women 23% 1%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 81% 42%
% Black 5% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 8%
% International 4% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Duquesne University Swarthmore
% In-State 70% 10%
% Out-of-State 27% 75%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 1,644 students)

Duquesne University vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duquesne University or Swarthmore?

  • Swarthmore College is 31.5% more expensive to attend than Duquesne University for in-state tuition ($61,992.00 vs. $47,146.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.5% higher at Swarthmore than Duquesne University ($61,992.00 vs. $47,146.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Duquesne University ($17,930 vs. $35,125)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duquesne University are 21.4% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($15,620 vs. $18,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Duquesne University than Swarthmore College (100% vs. 53%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 121.9% larger than aid received Duquesne University ($62,084 vs. $27,980)

Duquesne University vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Swarthmore College (1431) is 293 points higher than at Duquesne University (1138)
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Duquesne University (26)
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Duquesne University (3.8)
  • Duquesne University has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Duquesne University vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne University 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 Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Duquesne University (95% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn on average $700 more per year than Duquesne University graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $65,100)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($201 vs. $279)
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duquesne University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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