Penn State Beaver vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Swarthmore College is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Beaver 12:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver than Swarthmore ($18,581 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 28.7% lower than at Swarthmore College ($14,474 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 354.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $51,086 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 171.4% higher at Swarthmore than at Penn State Beaver (about $41,360 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at Swarthmore College (88% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 581.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($61,634 vs. $9,045).

Penn State Beaver vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 340 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Penn State Beaver vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Penn State Beaver graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($201 vs. $277).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 69%)

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.