Reed vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Reed College in Portland, OR with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Swarthmore College is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Reed College is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Reed College 9:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Reed vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Reed 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 Reed ($22,469 vs. $30,953).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 13% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,660 vs. $20,308).
• Reed College is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $3,856 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Reed than at Swarthmore College (about $3,856 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reed College than at Swarthmore College (58% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 11.2% larger than aid received by Reed College students ($61,634 vs. $55,445).

Reed vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Reed 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 Reed.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 120 points higher than at Reed (1410).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Reed).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Reed College 1290/1520; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Reed College 30/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Reed - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
• Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Reed vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Reed vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Reed 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 Reed College's (80%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $18,600 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($16,000 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($165 vs. $201).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Reed students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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.