Emerson vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Emerson College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Emerson vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson 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 Emerson ($22,469 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 2.9% lower than at Emerson College ($20,308 vs. $20,920).
• Swarthmore College is 14.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $8,438 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.8% higher at Swarthmore than at Emerson College (about $8,438 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Swarthmore College (77% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 128.3% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($61,634 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 180 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Emerson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Emerson (3.73).
• Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Emerson vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson 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 Emerson College's (81%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($201 vs. $242).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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.