Location
- Swarthmore College
- Swarthmore, PA
- Duke University
- Durham, NC
Swarthmore College vs Duke University
Swarthmore, PA · Durham, NC · largest Scorecard gap: median earnings (6 yr)
Scorecard match plate
Pair PA:NC
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-EARN
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- CROSS-STATE PA × NC
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-EARN Largest gap · Median Earnings (6 yr)
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both acceptance rates tightened, 2013–2023
TWIN-TIGHTEN · adm · 2013–2023
Swarthmore College and Duke University each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.
- Swarthmore College: acceptance rate tightened -51.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.88).
- Duke University: acceptance rate tightened -49.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.93).
- Swarthmore College: net price ranged $18,157–$24,166 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change -22.7% is not a trend (r² 0.29).
- Duke University: net price ranged $23,442–$36,415 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +22.8% is not a trend (r² 0.06).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
- Swarthmore College
- 1,613
- Duke University
- 6,442
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Swarthmore College
- $56,211
- Duke University
- $85,792
Median Debt at Graduation
- Swarthmore College
- $17,500
- Duke University
- $13,000
Acceptance Rate
- Swarthmore College
- 7.5%
- Duke University
- 5.7%
Avg Net Price
- Swarthmore College
- $23,149
- Duke University
- $29,612
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Swarthmore College
- $80,257
- Duke University
- $97,800
In-State Tuition
- Swarthmore College
- $65,494
- Duke University
- $68,758
Out-of-State Tuition
- Swarthmore College
- $65,494
- Duke University
- $68,758
Retention Rate
- Swarthmore College
- 94.0%
- Duke University
- 97.9%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA | Duke University Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Swarthmore, PA | Durham, NC |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 1,613 | 6,442 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $56,211 | $85,792 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $17,500 | $13,000 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.5% | 5.7% |
| Avg Net Price | $23,149 | $29,612 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $80,257 | $97,800 |
| In-State Tuition | $65,494 | $68,758 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $65,494 | $68,758 |
| Retention Rate | 94.0% | 97.9% |
Largest gaps: Swarthmore College vs Duke University
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Duke University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($85,792 vs $56,211 at Swarthmore College)
- MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Duke University leads on median debt at graduation ($13,000 vs $17,500 at Swarthmore College)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Duke University leads on acceptance rate (5.7% vs 7.5% at Swarthmore College)
Swarthmore College profile · Duke University profile · Compare other colleges
Median Earnings (6 yr) and other Scorecard questions
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Swarthmore College and Duke University?▼
Duke University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $85,792 versus $56,211 at Swarthmore College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median debt at graduation, who leads between Swarthmore College and Duke University?▼
Duke University leads on median debt at graduation at $13,000 versus $17,500 at Swarthmore College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Swarthmore College and Duke University?▼
Duke University leads on acceptance rate at 5.7% versus 7.5% at Swarthmore College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); median earnings (6 yr) focus for this pair · 2025