NYU vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between New York 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.

New York University
Swarthmore College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 42%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • NYU 58%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare New York University in New York, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New York University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: New York University 8:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

NYU vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 NYU ($22,469 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Swarthmore College are 13.7% lower than at New York University ($20,308 vs. $23,530).
  • Swarthmore College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $2,698 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Swarthmore than at New York University (about $2,698 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at New York University (57% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 14.3% larger than aid received by New York University students ($61,634 vs. $53,901).

NYU vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 10 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming NYU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Swarthmore (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

NYU vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($201 vs. $240).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.