Lafayette College vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Lafayette College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,775 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Lafayette College vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lafayette 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 Lafayette College ($22,469 vs. $38,442).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lafayette College are 2.2% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,866 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lafayette College (about $96 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at Swarthmore than at Lafayette College (about $96 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $65,398.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lafayette College than at Swarthmore College (61% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 37.9% larger than aid received by Lafayette College students ($61,634 vs. $44,707).

Lafayette College vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 100 points higher than at Lafayette College (1430).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Lafayette College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 1350/1500; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lafayette College 31/33; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lafayette College - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lafayette College Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Lafayette College (3.53).
• Lafayette College has a higher acceptance rate (31.4%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Lafayette College vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Lafayette College vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lafayette 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 Lafayette College's (88%).
• Graduates from Lafayette College earn a median of about $15,200 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,000 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Lafayette College graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lafayette College graduates ($201 vs. $268).
• More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.