Rutgers vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Rutgers University New Brunswick or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rutgers or Swarthmore is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick vs. Swarthmore College comparison
Rutgers University New Brunswick Swarthmore College College 3 College 4
Rutgers University New Brunswick Swarthmore College
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Overview

 Rutgers Swarthmore
Location New Brunswick, NJ Swarthmore, PA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 50,617 1,644
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #41
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $13,674 $61,992
Tuition (Out of State) $32,436 $61,992
Room & Board $14,715 $18,964
Avg Net Price $19,052 $17,930
Avg Grant Aid $16,249 $62,084
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 53%

Admission

 Rutgers Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 43,347 14,287
Admitted 28,326 992
Acceptance Rate 65.3% 6.9%
Enrolled % 27.1% 41.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.9
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 28/33 33/34
SAT Range 1270/1480 1460/1560
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 4, 2026

Academics

 Rutgers Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 77% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $229 $201

Diversity

 Rutgers Swarthmore
% Men 10% 0%
% Women 18% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 42%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 8%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 Rutgers Swarthmore
% In-State 84% 10%
% Out-of-State 8% 75%

Campus

 Rutgers Swarthmore
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (50,617 students vs. 1,644 students)

Rutgers vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Swarthmore?

  • Swarthmore College is 353.4% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($61,992.00 vs. $13,674.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 91.1% higher at Swarthmore than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($61,992.00 vs. $32,436.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Rutgers ($17,930 vs. $19,052)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 28.9% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($14,715 vs. $18,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Swarthmore College than Rutgers University New Brunswick (53% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 282.1% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($62,084 vs. $16,249)

Rutgers vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Swarthmore? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Swarthmore or Rutgers .

  • The average SAT score at Swarthmore College (1431) is 206 points higher than at Rutgers (1225)
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Rutgers vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers or Swarthmore? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Swarthmore and Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick (95% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $400 more per year than Swarthmore graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $65,800)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $2,715 lower median federal student loan debt than Rutgers graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,215)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Rutgers graduates. ($201 vs. $229)
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/