Simmons University vs. Swarthmore

Should I go to Simmons University or Swarthmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Simmons University 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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Simmons University vs. Swarthmore College comparison
Simmons University Swarthmore College College 3 College 4
Simmons University Swarthmore College
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Overview

Simmons University Swarthmore
Location Boston, MA Swarthmore, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,053 1,644
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #122 #41
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website simmons.edu swarthmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Simmons University Swarthmore
Tuition (In State) $44,208 $61,992
Tuition (Out of State) $44,208 $61,992
Room & Board $17,104 $18,964
Avg Net Price $29,575 $17,930
Avg Grant Aid $33,874 $62,084
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 53%

Admission

Simmons University Swarthmore
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,871 14,287
Admitted 3,215 992
Acceptance Rate 66% 6.9%
Enrolled % 11.3% 41.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.87 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 26/31 33/34
SAT Range 1230/1390 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 Feb 1, 2026 Jan 4, 2026

Academics

Simmons University Swarthmore
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (6%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Simmons University Swarthmore
Graduation Rate 69% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,800 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 87%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $201

Diversity

Simmons University Swarthmore
% Men 8% 0%
% Women 57% 1%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 42%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 6% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 8%
% International 3% 11%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

Simmons University Swarthmore
% In-State 57% 10%
% Out-of-State 37% 75%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Simmons University is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (5,053 students vs. 1,644 students)

Simmons University vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simmons University or Swarthmore?

  • Swarthmore College is 40.2% more expensive to attend than Simmons University for in-state tuition ($61,992.00 vs. $44,208.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.2% higher at Swarthmore than Simmons University ($61,992.00 vs. $44,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Simmons University ($17,930 vs. $29,575)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simmons University are 10.9% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($17,104 vs. $18,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Simmons University than Swarthmore College (99% vs. 53%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 83.3% larger than aid received Simmons University ($62,084 vs. $33,874)

Simmons University vs. Swarthmore Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Swarthmore College (1431) is 268 points higher than at Simmons University (1163)
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Simmons University (27)
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Simmons University (3.87)
  • Simmons University has a higher acceptance rate (66%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)

Simmons University vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Simmons University 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 Simmons University.

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is higher than Simmons University (95% vs. 69%)
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn on average $13,000 more per year than Simmons University graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $52,800)
  • Swarthmore College students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Simmons University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Swarthmore graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than Simmons University graduates. ($201 vs. $268)
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simmons University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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