Muhlenberg College vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Muhlenberg College or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Muhlenberg College or Swarthmore is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Muhlenberg College vs. Swarthmore College comparison
Muhlenberg College Swarthmore College College 3 College 4
Muhlenberg College Swarthmore College
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Overview

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
Location Allentown, PA Swarthmore, PA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,959 1,625
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #88 #40
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website muhlenberg.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $57,270 $58,928
Tuition (Out of State) $57,270 $58,928
Room & Board $13,440 $18,026
Avg Net Price $32,926 $20,715
Avg Grant Aid $38,412 $47,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 63%

Admission

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,329 14,707
Admitted 2,836 1,019
Acceptance Rate 65.5% 6.9%
Enrolled % 14.8% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.9
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 29/33 32/35
SAT Range 1200/1400 1440/1560
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Jan 4, 2025

Academics

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 86% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $63,700 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,490 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $273 $201

Diversity

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
% Men 39% 49%
% Women 61% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 75% 42%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 8%
% International 3% 11%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
% In-State 31% 10%
% Out-of-State 68% 75%

Campus

Muhlenberg College Swarthmore
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Muhlenberg College is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (1,959 students vs. 1,625 students)

Muhlenberg College vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Muhlenberg College or Swarthmore?

  • Swarthmore College is 2.9% more expensive to attend than Muhlenberg College for in-state tuition ($58,928.00 vs. $57,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.9% higher at Swarthmore than Muhlenberg College ($58,928.00 vs. $57,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Muhlenberg College ($20,715 vs. $32,926)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Muhlenberg College are 34.1% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($13,440 vs. $18,026)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Muhlenberg College than Swarthmore College (98% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 24.2% larger than aid received Muhlenberg College ($47,703 vs. $38,412)

Muhlenberg College vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Muhlenberg College or Swarthmore? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Swarthmore or Muhlenberg College .

  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Muhlenberg College (3.44)
  • Muhlenberg College has a higher acceptance rate (65.5%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Muhlenberg College vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Muhlenberg College or Swarthmore? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Swarthmore and Muhlenberg College.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Muhlenberg College (95% vs. 86%)
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn on average $2,100 more per year than Muhlenberg College graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $63,700)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $6,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $26,490)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($201 vs. $273)
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Muhlenberg College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/