Swarthmore vs. Brown

Deciding between Swarthmore College and Brown University? 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
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Swarthmore -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Swarthmore
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Swarthmore A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Swarthmore No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Swarthmore 3%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Swarthmore 77%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Swarthmore College 7:1; Brown University 6:1.

Swarthmore vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore or Brown? 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 Brown ($22,469 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 14.1% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,444 vs. $20,308).
  • Brown University is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $5,918 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Brown than at Swarthmore College (about $5,918 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Brown University (57% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($61,634 vs. $61,392).

Swarthmore vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 20 points higher than at Swarthmore (1530).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 1490/1560; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Swarthmore - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • Swarthmore has a higher acceptance rate (7.5%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.8% at Swarthmore vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Swarthmore vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Swarthmore and Brown? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Swarthmore is the same as at Brown University (95% vs. 95%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $21,800 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($155 vs. $201).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.