Vassar vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

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

Vassar College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,462 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Vassar vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar 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 Vassar ($22,469 vs. $29,981).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 10.2% lower than at Swarthmore College ($18,240 vs. $20,308).
• Vassar College is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $5,536 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Vassar than at Swarthmore College (about $5,536 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Vassar College (57% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Vassar College students ($61,634 vs. $57,443).

Vassar vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vassar 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 Vassar.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 30 points higher than at Vassar (1500).
• Incoming Vassar students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Swarthmore (34).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Vassar (3.86).
• Vassar has a higher acceptance rate (18.6%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Vassar vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar 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 Vassar College's (91%).
• Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $3,720 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($15,780 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($163 vs. $201).
• More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.