Harvard vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Harvard University and Swarthmore College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Swarthmore College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Swarthmore No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Swarthmore No

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Swarthmore ($17,525 vs. $22,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 4.2% lower than at Harvard University ($20,308 vs. $21,190).
  • Swarthmore College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,818 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Swarthmore than at Harvard University (about $3,818 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Harvard University (57% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 10.4% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($68,015 vs. $61,634).

Harvard vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 20 points higher than at Swarthmore (1530).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Swarthmore).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • Swarthmore has a higher acceptance rate (7.5%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Harvard vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Swarthmore College's (95%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $70,900 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $13,000 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($6,500 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $134 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($67 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

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.