UB vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between University at Buffalo and Swarthmore 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.

University at Buffalo
Swarthmore College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

UB vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or Swarthmore? 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 University at Buffalo than Swarthmore ($20,529 vs. $22,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 14.2% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,426 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 498.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $54,558 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107.7% higher at Swarthmore than at University at Buffalo (about $33,958 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Swarthmore College (76% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 478% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($61,634 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 230 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

UB vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB and Swarthmore? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College and UB graduates have the same median loan debt ($19,500 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Swarthmore College and UB graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($201 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

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.