Grove City College vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Grove City College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,383 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Grove City College is located in Grove City, Pennsylvania (Distant Town setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Grove City College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Grove City College 13:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Grove City College vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grove City 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 Grove City College ($22,469 vs. $25,289).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grove City College are 39.8% lower than at Swarthmore College ($12,230 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 201.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Grove City College (about $43,794 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $21,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 201.8% higher at Swarthmore than at Grove City College (about $43,794 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $21,700.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grove City College than at Swarthmore College (65% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 600.9% larger than aid received by Grove City College students ($61,634 vs. $8,794).

Grove City College vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grove City 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 Grove City College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 270 points higher than at Grove City College (1260).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at Grove City College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grove City College 1141/1388; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grove City College 23/31; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grove City College - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Grove City College Mar 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 Grove City College (3.73).
• Grove City College has a higher acceptance rate (72.3%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.3% at Grove City College vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Grove City College vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grove City 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).

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.