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Haverford College Amherst Williams Vassar Bryn Mawr Johns Hopkins Pomona Cornell Carnegie Mellon Georgetown Penn Middlebury| Swarthmore College | Thomas Jefferson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
| Location | Swarthmore, PA | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,644 | 8,315 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #41 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | swarthmore.edu | jefferson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $61,992 | $44,400 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $61,992 | $44,400 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,964 | $17,246 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,930 | $29,097 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $62,084 | $33,063 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 53% | 100% |
Admission |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,287 | 6,084 | ||
| Admitted | 992 | 5,241 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 6.9% | 86.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 41.8% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.9 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | |||
| ACT Range | 33/34 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1460/1560 | 1150/1350 | ||
| 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 | Jan 4, 2026 | Jul 31, 2026 |
Academics |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 95% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $65,800 | $122,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $12,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $129 |
Diversity |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 40% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 42% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 1% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 8% | 3% | ||
| % International | 11% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 7% |
Students |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 10% | 68% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 75% | 30% | ||
Campus |
Swarthmore | Jefferson | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Thomas Jefferson University is larger than than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (8,315 students vs. 1,644 students)
Swarthmore vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore or Jefferson?
- Swarthmore College is 39.6% more expensive to attend than Jefferson for in-state tuition ($61,992.00 vs. $44,400.00)
- Out of state tuition is 39.6% higher at Swarthmore than Thomas Jefferson University ($61,992.00 vs. $44,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Swarthmore College than Jefferson ($17,930 vs. $29,097)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Jefferson University are 10% lower than costs at Swarthmore College ($17,246 vs. $18,964)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Swarthmore College (100% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 87.8% larger than aid received Thomas Jefferson University ($62,084 vs. $33,063)
Swarthmore vs. Jefferson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Swarthmore or Jefferson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Jefferson or Swarthmore .
- Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Jefferson (3.73)
- Jefferson has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than Swarthmore (6.9%)
Swarthmore vs. Jefferson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Swarthmore or Jefferson? 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 Jefferson and Swarthmore.
- Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn on average $57,100 more per year than Swarthmore graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $65,800)
- Thomas Jefferson University students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Swarthmore graduates. ($12,500 vs. $19,500)
- Jefferson graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Swarthmore graduates. ($129 vs. $201)
- More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jefferson students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/