Swarthmore vs. Middlebury

Comparable Facts

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

Middlebury College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,803 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting); Middlebury College is in Middlebury, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Middlebury College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Swarthmore College 7:1; Middlebury College 8:1.

Swarthmore vs. Middlebury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore or Middlebury? 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 Middlebury ($22,469 vs. $26,233).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Middlebury College are 5.2% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,250 vs. $20,308).
• Middlebury College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $2,106 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Middlebury than at Swarthmore College (about $2,106 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Middlebury College (57% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 3.3% larger than aid received by Middlebury College students ($61,634 vs. $59,647).

Swarthmore vs. Middlebury Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 30 points higher than at Middlebury (1500).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Middlebury (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 1490/1560; Middlebury College 1445/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 33/35; Middlebury College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Swarthmore - Test optional; Middlebury - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027; Middlebury Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Middlebury (3.89).
• Middlebury has a higher acceptance rate (10.7%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.8% at Swarthmore vs. 44.4% at Middlebury.

Swarthmore vs. Middlebury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Swarthmore and Middlebury? 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 Middlebury College's (90%).
• Graduates from Middlebury College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,400 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Middlebury College graduates have a $3,611 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($15,889 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Middlebury graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($164 vs. $201).
• More Middlebury graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.