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Easton, PA · Swarthmore, PA
| Lafayette College | Swarthmore College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $34,433/yr | $23,149/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,716/yr | $7,690/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $16,000 | $17,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $7,445/yr | $4,951/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $10,881/yr | $11,444/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $12,581/yr | $22,443/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $52,608/yr | $47,544/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $170/mo | $186/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $19,866/yr | $20,308/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $19,866/yr | No data reported |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $760/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,150/yr | $2,134/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $83,133/yr | $84,103/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $65,398/yr | $65,494/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $65,398/yr | $65,494/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 12% | 19% |
| Students taking federal loans | 20% | 11% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 31% | 7.5% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1350–1500 | 1490–1560 |
| SAT average | 1424 | 1534 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 31–33 | 33–35 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 31–35 · Math 27–33 | English 35–36 · Math 31–35 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 9,874 | 14,287 |
| Students accepted | 3,107 | 992 |
| Students who enrolled | 697 | 415 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 22% | 42% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 31% | 40% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 14% | 14% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 88% | 92% |
| Freshmen who come back | 90% | 94% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $91,410/yr | $80,257/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $63,534–$133,083 | $50,812–$138,207 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 89% | 94% |
| White students graduating | 88% | 94% |
| Black students graduating | 84% | 87% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 85% | 90% |
| Asian students graduating | 79% | 96% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $80,614/yr | $56,211/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 90% | 81% |
| Graduate on time | 80% | 76% |
| Pell students who graduate | 86% | 92% |
| Students who transfer out | 10% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $84,452/yr | $72,890/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 30% · Engineering 22% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 14% | Social Sciences 25% · Computer & Information Sciences 11% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 30% of degrees | Social Sciences — 25% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Engineering — 22% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 14% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Mathematics & Statistics — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 4% of degrees | Engineering — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Chemical Engineering — $79,602/yr | Computer and Information Sciences, General — $103,686/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 45% | 43% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,757 | 1,613 |
| Students per professor | 10 : 1 | 7 : 1 |
| Average professor pay | $12,663/mo | $14,961/mo |
| Full-time professors | 87% | 94% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $111,341 | $48,016 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Easton, PA | Swarthmore, PA |
| Region | Mid East | Mid East |
| Founded | 1826 | 1864 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 6.9% | 13% |
| Men | 50% | 48% |
| Women | 50% | 52% |
| White students | 67% | 30% |
| Black students | 5.9% | 9.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9.9% | 16% |
| Asian students | 3.5% | 17% |
| Two or more races | 4.9% | 11% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 15% | 27% |
| Part-time students | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $25,883/yr | $46,961/yr |
| Endowment | $1.1B | $2.7B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,506 | 1,574 |
| Required to live on campus | No | Yes — for first-year students |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $11,754/yr | $9,578/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,330/yr | $9,386/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 20 meals/week | No data reported |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | No |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | No | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division III without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 20 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 613 | 438 |
| Athletic scholarships | $13.9M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $33.8M | $5.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $33.8M | $6.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $473,398 | $81,444 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.