Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Erie Behrend College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (3,336 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College ($22,469 vs. $23,764).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 28.7% lower than at Swarthmore College ($14,474 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 310.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Erie-Behrend College (about $49,522 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 142.9% higher at Swarthmore than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $38,536 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Erie Behrend College than at Swarthmore College (76% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 472.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($61,634 vs. $10,760).

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 310 points higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (1220).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at Penn State Erie-Behrend College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 1120/1310; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Erie Behrend College 25/31; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Erie-Behrend College - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• Penn State Erie-Behrend College has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Penn State Erie-Behrend College vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Erie-Behrend 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 Penn State Erie Behrend College's (66%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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 Erie-Behrend College graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Erie-Behrend College graduates ($201 vs. $277).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Erie-Behrend College 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.