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Amherst College vs Swarthmore College

Odds, test scores, cost, aid and graduation rates, side by side from each school's own Common Data Set. Add more schools

Amherst CollegeAmherst College9%admitted · 2024-25Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College8%admitted · 2025-26

Getting in

Acceptance rate9%7.5%
Early decision rate29.4%17.8%
SAT middle 50%1500–15601480–1550
ACT middle 50%33–3533–35
Applicant reports on our site273252

Cost and aid

Tuition$69,820$68,766
Food and housing$18,390$21,466
Sticker price per year$88,870$90,692
Average need-based grant$68,154$74,043
Average % of need met100%100%

Outcomes

First-year retention97.3%98.1%
6-year graduation rate94%91.6%
Undergraduates1,9141,631

Best value in each row is highlighted. Sticker price uses out-of-state tuition for public universities and leaves out books, travel and aid. "—" means the school left the item blank in its Common Data Set.

Amherst College or Swarthmore College?

Is Amherst College harder to get into than Swarthmore College?

Swarthmore College is more selective. It admitted 7.5% of first-year applicants, compared with 9% at Amherst College, per each school's latest Common Data Set.

What SAT scores do Amherst College and Swarthmore College students have?

The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1500–1560 at Amherst College and 1480–1550 at Swarthmore College.

Which is cheaper, Amherst College or Swarthmore College?

Before aid, Amherst College costs about $88,870 a year in tuition, fees, food and housing, against $90,692 at Swarthmore College (out-of-state tuition for public universities). The average need-based grant is $68,154 at Amherst College and $74,043 at Swarthmore College.

Does Amherst College or Swarthmore College have a higher graduation rate?

94% of Amherst College students graduate within six years, compared with 91.6% at Swarthmore College.

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