HMC vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College 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.

Harvey Mudd College
Swarthmore College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Swarthmore College is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

HMC vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC 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 HMC ($22,469 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 9% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($20,308 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $3,119 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at HMC than at Swarthmore College (about $3,119 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Swarthmore College (64% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 33.4% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($61,634 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HMC 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 HMC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 10 points higher than at Swarthmore (1530).
  • Incoming HMC 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: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

HMC vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC 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 Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $19,100 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $6,040 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($201 vs. $264).

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.