Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 7.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 92/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Swarthmore earns an ROI score of 92 - Exceptional Value - from a private liberal arts college of just 1,613 students outside Philadelphia. The sticker price of $65,494 in tuition is high, but the net price drops to $23,149 after aid, and low-income families often pay far less. Swarthmore's completion rate is 92.3%. Median 10-year earnings hit $80,257 - a strong outcome for a school with no engineering or business school in the traditional sense. The payback period is 5.1 years. Computer and Information Sciences and Economics are the two programs with the most graduates and the clearest salary data, with CS alumni earning a median $103,686 one year out. The liberal arts framework means most students build breadth first, then specialize - graduates end up in finance, consulting, tech, medicine, and law at high rates. Swarthmore's aid program is the key factor: the college meets full demonstrated need for all admitted students.
The median graduate earns $80,257 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Swarthmore College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $65,494/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $65,494/yr |
| Average net price | $23,149/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $92,596 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $80,257 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $186 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 92.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,613 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $65,494/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,149/year, or roughly $92,596 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,690/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $47,544/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,500, which works out to about $186 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,500) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,690 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,951 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,444 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,443 |
| $110,001+ | $47,544 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $7,690 per year at Swarthmore - and the 30k-48k bracket actually pays less at $4,951. For a low-income student admitted to Swarthmore, the financial case is strong. Four-year net cost is around $20,000-30,000 total when room and board are factored in. Swarthmore's endowment-backed aid program is genuine, not window dressing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48k-75k bracket pays $11,444 per year; the 75k-110k bracket pays $22,443. That's a noticeable jump - cost roughly doubles as income moves through the middle range. Middle-income families should run the net price calculator before deciding the sticker price is disqualifying. For families in the $50k-$75k range especially, Swarthmore can be competitive with public flagships once aid is applied.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay a net price of $47,544 per year - close to full freight. The 10-year earnings of $80,257 and payback period of 5.1 years suggest the investment pays off for most graduates, but it requires family resources or willingness to borrow. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 stays manageable even at higher debt levels.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Swarthmore College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $128,051 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $150,942 | - |
| Mathematics | $72,656 | - |
| International Relations | $58,372 | - |
| Engineering, General | $78,519 | - |
| Biology | $57,754 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Swarthmore CS graduates 73 students per year and they land well. Median earnings one year out: $103,686. By year four, the median hits $150,942. The Swarthmore CS program is small and rigorous, which means students get more faculty access and project depth than in large cohorts. Graduates tend to move into software engineering, data science, and ML roles at tech companies and financial firms. The program's liberal arts context means CS majors often double with economics or mathematics, building a profile that resonates with employers looking for analytical range, not just coding output.
Economics
Economics is Swarthmore's most popular major by graduate count, with 76 graduates per year. One-year median earnings are $76,944. Four-year earnings reach $128,051. Median debt for econ graduates is $19,500, giving a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 - ROI grade B+. Econ graduates from Swarthmore go into consulting, finance, and graduate programs at high rates. The program's quantitative focus, combined with the school's general emphasis on writing and argument, prepares students for both analyst roles and graduate admissions at competitive programs.
Engineering, General
Four-year earnings reach $78,519. The program is intentionally small, which means students work closely with faculty on research and senior thesis projects. Swarthmore engineers often pursue graduate school in engineering or applied sciences. Employers in defense, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing actively recruit from this program. The combination of technical rigor with writing-intensive humanities requirements gives these graduates communication skills that most engineering programs don't develop.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 91.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Swarthmore College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 7.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 750-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 1,613 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,961 |
Swarthmore's admit rate is 7.5%. The academic profile is tight: SAT math 750-790, SAT reading 740-770, ACT 33-35. Getting in requires exceptional grades, strong essays, and demonstrated intellectual initiative. Students on the margins academically should treat this as a reach.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swarthmore College (this school) | 92 | $23,149 | $80,257 |
| Claremont McKenna College | 92 | $28,849 | $104,736 |
| Bowdoin College | 92 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| Pomona College | 90 | $19,285 | $77,779 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Swarthmore selects heavily. With a 7.5% admission rate and SAT ranges of 740-770 reading and 750-790 math (ACT 33-35), admitted students are in the top academic percentile. Pell Grant recipients make up 19% of students. Students who thrive here are self-directed, intellectually curious, and comfortable in a high-pressure seminar environment. The school's engineering program, honor code culture, and interdisciplinary ethos attract students who want depth, not just credentials.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Swarthmore College is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $92,596 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $80,257 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 5.1 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 92.3% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $17,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Swarthmore College: Common Questions
Is Swarthmore College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Swarthmore College pays off. It scores 92/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $23,149 a year after aid ($92,596 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $80,257 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.1 years to earn back.
How much does Swarthmore College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $23,149 a year, or roughly $92,596 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Swarthmore College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $80,257 ten years after enrolling, roughly $38,457 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Swarthmore College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.1 years for Swarthmore College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Swarthmore College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,500, against average earnings of $44,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Swarthmore College?
The six-year graduation rate is 92.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.