Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, 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 Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes Barre than Swarthmore ($16,621 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 24.8% lower than at Swarthmore College ($15,274 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 358.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $51,214 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 172.8% higher at Swarthmore than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $41,488 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Swarthmore College (89% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 532.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($61,634 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 320 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; 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 Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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