CAMPUS · SWARTHMORE, PA · PRIVATE

Swarthmore College

6.9%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

20% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating Swarthmore enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$18,964
Total Cost of Attendance	$84,103

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$7,690	$30,760
$30-48k	$4,951	$19,804
$48-75k	$11,444	$45,776
$75-110k	$22,443	$89,772
$110k+	$47,544	$190,176

Financial Aid & Student Debt at Swarthmore College

20.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$17,500

Median Debt at Graduation

Is Swarthmore College Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$80,257

Median Earnings (10yr)

$17,500

Median Debt

4.6x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. Swarthmore College — 4.6x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

Swarthmore College True Cost by Family Income

20% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating Swarthmore enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$7,690	$30,760
$30-48k	$4,951	$19,804
$48-75k	$11,444	$45,776
$75-110k	$22,443	$89,772
$110k+	$47,544	$190,176

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$18,964
Total Cost of Attendance	$84,103

Financial Aid & Student Debt

20.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$17,500

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$56,211

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

Swarthmore College Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does Swarthmore College actually cost per year?

Swarthmore College's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $84,103/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $18,814/yr, a 78% discount off sticker price.

Does Swarthmore College offer good financial aid?

20% of Swarthmore College students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including Swarthmore College also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if Swarthmore College requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at Swarthmore College?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $7,690/yr at Swarthmore College after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $47,544/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is Swarthmore College worth the cost?

Swarthmore College graduates earn a median of $80,257 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $336,412 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.