RPI vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Swarthmore College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Swarthmore College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • RPI Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • RPI Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • RPI Yes
  • Swarthmore Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • RPI No
  • Swarthmore No
  • Daycare Facility
  • RPI No
  • Swarthmore No

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 (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 RPI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 90 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: 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.
  • Accepted 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? 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 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.