Fairfield University vs. Swarthmore

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

Fairfield University Swarthmore
Location Fairfield, CT Swarthmore, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 1,625
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #40
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $58,928
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $58,928
Room & Board $16,750 $18,026
Avg Net Price $46,065 $20,715
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $47,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 63%

Admission

Fairfield University Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 14,707
Admitted 6,971 1,019
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 6.9%
Enrolled % 19.1% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.9
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 28/31 32/35
SAT Range 1240/1370 1440/1560
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 Jan 15, 2025 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 82% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $201

Diversity

Fairfield University Swarthmore
% Men 41% 49%
% Women 59% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 42%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 8%
% International 2% 11%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

Fairfield University Swarthmore
% In-State 15% 10%
% Out-of-State 84% 75%

Campus

Fairfield 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

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 1,625 students)

Fairfield University vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Swarthmore?

  • Swarthmore College is 9.9% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($58,928.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at Swarthmore than Fairfield University ($58,928.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Fairfield University ($20,715 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 7.6% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($16,750 vs. $18,026)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Swarthmore College (94% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 88.7% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($47,703 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (52.2%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Fairfield University vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield 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 Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Fairfield University (95% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $11,300 more per year than Swarthmore graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $65,800)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($201 vs. $279)
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield 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/