MHC vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Mount Holyoke 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Swarthmore College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Holyoke College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,275 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

MHC vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 MHC ($22,469 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 3.1% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,684 vs. $20,308).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $1,524 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at MHC than at Swarthmore College (about $1,524 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Swarthmore College (77% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 17.6% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($61,634 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 70 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

MHC vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $15,800 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $1,706 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($201 vs. $219).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.