Maryland vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland College Park in College Park, MD with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland College Park is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Maryland vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland 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 of Maryland College Park than Swarthmore ($16,581 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 21.4% lower than at Swarthmore College ($15,958 vs. $20,308).
• Swarthmore College is 454.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $53,685 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $11,809.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 59% higher at Swarthmore than at University of Maryland College Park (about $24,308 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $41,186.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at University of Maryland College Park (57% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 379% larger than aid received by University of Maryland College Park students ($61,634 vs. $12,867).

Maryland vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland 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 Maryland.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 60 points higher than at Maryland (1470).
• Incoming Swarthmore students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Maryland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 32/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maryland - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Maryland (3.84).
• Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Maryland vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Maryland vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maryland 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 Maryland College Park's (82%).
• Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,300 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College and Maryland graduates have the same median loan debt ($19,500 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Swarthmore College and Maryland 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 Maryland students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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.