Swarthmore vs. Rice

Deciding between Swarthmore College and Rice 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
Rice University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Swarthmore -
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Swarthmore
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Swarthmore A
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • Swarthmore No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Swarthmore 3%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Swarthmore 77%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rice University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (8,961 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Swarthmore vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore or Rice? 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 Rice ($22,469 vs. $23,589).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rice University are 10.9% lower than at Swarthmore College ($18,100 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $1,350 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at Swarthmore than at Rice University (about $1,350 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Rice University (57% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($61,634 vs. $56,199).

Swarthmore vs. Rice Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 10 points higher than at Swarthmore (1530).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Rice (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 1490/1560; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 33/35; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Swarthmore - Test optional; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • Rice has a higher acceptance rate (8%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.8% at Swarthmore vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Swarthmore vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Swarthmore and Rice? 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 Rice University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $9,273 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($10,227 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($105 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rice students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.