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Is Swarthmore College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Swarthmore, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Affordable
Swarthmore lands in the affordable band for a typical family. Graduates earn a median of $80,257 ten years after enrolling, and that makes the median debt of $17,500 more manageable than it looks at first glance. For context, Swarthmore's net price is about 21% below the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. On the numbers alone, this school clears the bar comfortably.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$17,930
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $4,907 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $20,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
Graduation and earnings data create a stronger long-run payoff picture.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$23,149
Median earnings 10 years out
$80,257
Median debt at graduation
$17,500
Graduation rate
93%
At Swarthmore, a typical graduate carries about $17,500 in student debt and earns roughly $80,257 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $199 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Swarthmore is a private nonprofit four year school in Swarthmore, PA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
King's
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $23,093
Private nonprofit 4-year
Robert Morris
Moon Township, PA
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $23,003
Private nonprofit 4-year
Allegheny
Meadville, PA
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $22,940
Private nonprofit 4-year
Marywood
Scranton, PA
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $23,388
Private nonprofit 4-year
Saint Vincent
Latrobe, PA
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $23,510
Common questions about Swarthmore
The median net price at Swarthmore is $23,149 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Pennsylvania? See the most affordable private colleges in Pennsylvania →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →