Location
- Swarthmore College
- Swarthmore, PA
- University of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA
Swarthmore College vs University of Pennsylvania
Swarthmore, PA · Philadelphia, PA · largest Scorecard gap: median earnings (6 yr)
Scorecard match plate
Pair PA:PA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · SAME-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-EARN
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- SAME-STATE Same state · PA
- 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 University of Pennsylvania each posted a directional decline in acceptance rate over the same College Scorecard window. The squeeze is shared; the magnitude is close.
- University of Pennsylvania: acceptance rate tightened -52.0% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- Swarthmore College: acceptance rate tightened -51.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.88).
- 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).
- University of Pennsylvania: net price ranged $14,851–$31,229 across 11 years (2013–2023); endpoint change +36.1% is not a trend (r² 0.03).
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
- University of Pennsylvania
- 10,650
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Swarthmore College
- $56,211
- University of Pennsylvania
- $90,555
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Swarthmore College
- $80,257
- University of Pennsylvania
- $111,371
Acceptance Rate
- Swarthmore College
- 7.5%
Avg Net Price
- Swarthmore College
- $23,149
- University of Pennsylvania
- $28,699
Median Debt at Graduation
- Swarthmore College
- $17,500
- University of Pennsylvania
- $15,715
Retention Rate
- Swarthmore College
- 94.0%
In-State Tuition
- Swarthmore College
- $65,494
- University of Pennsylvania
- $68,686
Out-of-State Tuition
- Swarthmore College
- $65,494
- University of Pennsylvania
- $68,686
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Swarthmore, PA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 1,613 | 10,650 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $56,211 | $90,555 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $80,257 | $111,371 |
| Acceptance Rate | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Avg Net Price | $23,149 | $28,699 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $17,500 | $15,715 |
| Retention Rate | 94.0% | 98.9% |
| In-State Tuition | $65,494 | $68,686 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $65,494 | $68,686 |
Largest gaps: Swarthmore College vs University of Pennsylvania
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($90,555 vs $56,211 at Swarthmore College)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(1 University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (10 yr) ($111,371 vs $80,257 at Swarthmore College)
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate (5.4% vs 7.5% at Swarthmore College)
Swarthmore College profile · University of Pennsylvania profile · Compare other colleges
Median Earnings (6 yr) and other Scorecard questions
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Swarthmore College and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $90,555 versus $56,211 at Swarthmore College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (10 yr), who leads between Swarthmore College and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on median earnings (10 yr) at $111,371 versus $80,257 at Swarthmore College. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Swarthmore College and University of Pennsylvania?▼
University of Pennsylvania leads on acceptance rate at 5.4% 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