Gettysburg College vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Gettysburg College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,812 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gettysburg College is located in Gettysburg, PA (Distant Town setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Gettysburg College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gettysburg College 10:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Gettysburg College vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gettysburg College 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 Gettysburg College ($22,469 vs. $32,769).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gettysburg College are 20.7% lower than at Swarthmore College ($16,110 vs. $20,308).
• Gettysburg College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $1,146 more per year; $66,640.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at Gettysburg College than at Swarthmore College (about $1,146 more per year; $66,640.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gettysburg College than at Swarthmore College (98% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 25.3% larger than aid received by Gettysburg College students ($61,634 vs. $49,191).

Gettysburg College vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gettysburg College 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 Gettysburg College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 160 points higher than at Gettysburg College (1370).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Gettysburg College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gettysburg College 1270/1460; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gettysburg College 29/32; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gettysburg College - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Gettysburg College Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Gettysburg College has a higher acceptance rate (38.9%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Gettysburg College vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Gettysburg College vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gettysburg College 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 Gettysburg College's (85%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Gettysburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $60,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Gettysburg College graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,000).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gettysburg College graduates ($201 vs. $227).
• More Gettysburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.