Williams vs. Swarthmore

Comparable Facts

Compare Williams College in Williamstown, MA with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Williams College is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,164 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Williams College is located in Williamstown, MA (Distant Town setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Williams College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Williams College 6:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Williams vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Williams 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 Williams College than Swarthmore ($15,894 vs. $22,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Williams College are 15% lower than at Swarthmore College ($17,260 vs. $20,308).
• Williams College is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $3,066 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at Williams than at Swarthmore College (about $3,066 more per year; $68,560.00 vs. $65,494.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Williams College (57% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Williams College students is 11.9% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($68,966 vs. $61,634).

Williams vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Williams 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 Williams.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Williams College (1530) is the same as at Swarthmore (1530).
• Incoming Williams 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: Williams College 1490/1570; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Williams College 34/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Williams - Test optional; Swarthmore - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Williams Jan 10, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Williams students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
• Williams has a higher acceptance rate (8.3%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43% at Williams vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Williams vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Williams 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).

• The graduation rate at Williams is the same as at Swarthmore College (95% vs. 95%).
• Graduates from Williams College earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($73,600 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Williams College graduates have a $4,918 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($14,582 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Williams graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($150 vs. $201).
• More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Williams students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.