Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Haverford College Amherst Dickinson College Williams Gettysburg College Vassar Bryn Mawr Johns Hopkins Pomona Cornell Carnegie Mellon Georgetown| Franklin and Marshall College | Swarthmore College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
| Location | Lancaster, PA | Swarthmore, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,911 | 1,644 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #61 | #41 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fandm.edu | swarthmore.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $68,180 | $61,992 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $68,180 | $61,992 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,568 | $18,964 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,475 | $17,930 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $45,764 | $62,084 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 68% | 53% |
Admission |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,231 | 14,287 | ||
| Admitted | 2,938 | 992 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 31.8% | 6.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.8% | 41.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 33/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1298/1460 | 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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 4, 2026 |
Academics |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 95% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,900 | $65,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 87% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $201 |
Diversity |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 42% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 8% | ||
| % International | 14% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 3% |
Students |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 25% | 10% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 59% | 75% | ||
Campus |
F&M | Swarthmore | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Franklin and Marshall College is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,911 students vs. 1,644 students)
F&M vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, F&M or Swarthmore?
- Franklin and Marshall College is 10% more expensive to attend than Swarthmore for in-state tuition ($68,180.00 vs. $61,992.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10% higher at F&M than Swarthmore College ($68,180.00 vs. $61,992.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than F&M ($17,930 vs. $37,475)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 21.8% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($15,568 vs. $18,964)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than Swarthmore College (68% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 35.7% larger than aid received Franklin and Marshall College ($62,084 vs. $45,764)
F&M vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, F&M or Swarthmore? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Swarthmore or F&M .
- F&M has a higher acceptance rate (31.8%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)
F&M vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, F&M 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 F&M.
- The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Franklin and Marshall College (95% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Swarthmore College earn on average $3,900 more per year than F&M graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $61,900)
- Swarthmore College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than F&M graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,000)
- Swarthmore graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than F&M graduates. ($201 vs. $227)
- More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/