Yale vs. Swarthmore

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
Swarthmore College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Swarthmore #40
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Swarthmore -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Swarthmore

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Swarthmore 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Swarthmore $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Swarthmore No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Swarthmore 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Swarthmore 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Yale vs. Swarthmore Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than Swarthmore ($22,408 vs. $22,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 2% lower than at Swarthmore College ($19,900 vs. $20,308).
  • Yale University is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Swarthmore (about $1,756 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at Yale than at Swarthmore College (about $1,756 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $65,494.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Yale University (57% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Swarthmore College students ($65,892 vs. $61,634).

Yale vs. Swarthmore Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 10 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale 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: Yale University 1470/1570; Swarthmore College 1490/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Swarthmore College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Swarthmore - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • Swarthmore has a higher acceptance rate (7.5%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Yale vs. Swarthmore Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Swarthmore College's (95%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $52,600 more per year than Swarthmore graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($13,500 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($139 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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.