RPI vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

RPI vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI 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 RPI ($22,469 vs. $38,887).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 10.8% lower than at Swarthmore College ($18,120 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $1,413 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Swarthmore than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $1,413 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Swarthmore College (95% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 41.6% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($61,634 vs. $43,517).

RPI vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI or Swarthmore? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Swarthmore and RPI.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 90 points higher than at RPI (1440).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RPI (3.88).
• RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

RPI vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and Swarthmore? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
• Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $16,700 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,500).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($201 vs. $284).
• More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

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.