Ursinus College vs Swarthmore
Ursinus College and Swarthmore College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Ursinus, a liberal arts college with a close-knit community, boasts a 73% acceptance rate and a 79% graduation rate. Swarthmore, a highly selective liberal arts college known for its rigorous academics, has a 10% acceptance rate and a 93% graduation rate. While Ursinus students commonly pursue majors in Business, Biology, and Psychology, Swarthmore students often choose majors in Engineering, Economics, and Political Science. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences between these two exceptional colleges and discover which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Swarthmore College |
![]() Ursinus College |
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Overview |
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Location | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Collegeville, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 7.8% | 82.7% |
Application fees | $60 | |
SAT range | 1430 - 1560 | 1200 - 1360 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 27 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 39.0% | 34.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 21.0% | 9.0% |
Total number of applicants | 13,012 | 3,818 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,013 | 3,158 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 454 | 433 |
Yield rate | 44.8% | 13.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $75,793 | $73,982 |
Average net price | $19,733 | $31,438 |
Tuition | $55,856 | $56,600 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,796
Meal plan:
$8,354
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Room/dormitory:
$9,230
Meal plan:
$4,830
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
76.0%
Average amount $40,072 |
100.0%
Average amount $39,622 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
6.0%
Average amount $5,191 |
69.0%
Average amount $5,630 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $30,543 |
16.0%
Average amount $18,143 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,651
Men 49.7% Women 50.3% |
1,556
Men 52.2% Women 47.8% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 89.9% | 42.4% |
International students | 15.4% | 0.9% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,605 | 1,510 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California Pennsylvania New Jersey Texas | Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland New York Connecticut |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 94.1% | 72.5% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 27.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
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