RIT vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

RIT vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 RIT ($22,469 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 20.5% lower than at Swarthmore College ($16,142 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 10.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $6,220 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at Swarthmore than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $6,220 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $59,274.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Swarthmore College (98% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 75.7% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($61,634 vs. $35,077).

RIT vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 150 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at RIT ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RIT (3.7).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

RIT vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $900 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($19,500 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($201 vs. $289).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 75%)

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.