Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, 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 Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 352 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Greater Allegheny is located in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny than Swarthmore ($15,574 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny (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 Greater Allegheny (about $41,360 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Greater Allegheny than at Swarthmore College (86% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 454.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($61,634 vs. $11,121).

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 350 points higher than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSwarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($201 vs. $277).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.