Swarthmore vs. BC

Deciding between Swarthmore College and Bridgewater 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.

Swarthmore College
Bridgewater College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Swarthmore #40
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Swarthmore -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Swarthmore
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • Swarthmore 975
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Swarthmore 34
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Swarthmore A
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Swarthmore $201
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • Swarthmore No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Swarthmore 3%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Swarthmore 77%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Swarthmore College is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (1,623 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Swarthmore College 7:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

Swarthmore vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore or BC? 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 Bridgewater College than Swarthmore ($11,316 vs. $22,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater College are 26.9% lower than at Swarthmore College ($14,850 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 307% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $49,404 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 307% higher at Swarthmore than at Bridgewater College (about $49,404 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at Swarthmore College (100% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 30.3% larger than aid received by Bridgewater College students ($61,634 vs. $47,288).

Swarthmore vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Swarthmore or BC? 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 BC and Swarthmore.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 340 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 1490/1560; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Swarthmore - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027; BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at BC (3.61).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.8% at Swarthmore vs. 10.1% at BC.

Swarthmore vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Swarthmore and BC? 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 Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $22,700 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.