West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA) vs Swarthmore
West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. West Chester, a public university, boasts an acceptance rate of 79%, while Swarthmore, a private liberal arts college, has a highly selective acceptance rate of 11%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with West Chester excelling in fields like Business, Education, and Nursing, and Swarthmore excelling in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. While West Chester's student body is predominantly composed of Pennsylvania residents, Swarthmore attracts a more international student population. With graduation rates of 62% and 94% respectively, both universities prioritize student success, though Swarthmore's smaller class sizes and extensive resources may contribute to its higher graduation rate. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these institutions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Swarthmore College |
![]() West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
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Overview |
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Location | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 95.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 7.8% | 89.4% |
Application fees | $60 |
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1430 - 1560 | 1070 - 1250 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 23 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 39.0% | 27.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 21.0% | 1.0% |
Total number of applicants | 13,012 | 14,020 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,013 | 12,528 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 454 | 2,628 |
Yield rate | 44.8% | 21.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $75,793 |
In state:
$28,419
Out of state:
$40,243
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Average net price | $19,733 | $14,133 |
Tuition | $55,856 |
In state:
$7,716
Out of state:
$19,290
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,796
Meal plan:
$8,354
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Room/dormitory:
$5,794
Meal plan:
$3,700
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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 $4,607 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
6.0%
Average amount $5,191 |
51.0%
Average amount $5,238 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $30,543 |
11.0%
Average amount $11,835 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,651
Men 49.7% Women 50.3% |
14,471
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
Graduate students | N/A |
3,143
Men 31.7% Women 68.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 89.9% | 11.4% |
International students | 15.4% | 0.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,605 | 5,128 |
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 Delaware Maryland New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 8:1 | 20:1 |
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% | 72.8% |
Dropout rate | 5.7% | 7.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 18.4% |
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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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Music (Master's Degrees)
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