UConn vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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 of Connecticut
Swarthmore College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Connecticut is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (28,306 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

UConn vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 Swarthmore College than UConn ($22,469 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 29.2% lower than at Swarthmore College ($14,380 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 211.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $44,450 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.8% higher at Swarthmore than at University of Connecticut (about $21,782 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Swarthmore College (81% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 273.5% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($61,634 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 200 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

UConn vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UConn students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 78%)

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.