Swarthmore College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Swarthmore College was $61,992 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 5.2%–from $58,928 the previous year. On average, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

Remember, the "sticker price" of tuition does not always mean much if you plan to use financial aid to help pay for college. Many students pay much less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until after graduation.

Swarthmore College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Swarthmore College is around $64,615 a year.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2023 was around $25,795 per student, not including those with no debt.

Does Swarthmore College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Swarthmore College is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Pennsylvania as it does for students who live in other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing an insitution where you are eligible for in-state tuition can save on the overall cost of college. Take the time to confirm your state's eligibility criteria for as an in-state resident. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Pennsylvania colleges

Is Swarthmore College's Tuition Different for International Students?

Swarthmore College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but should research private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Swarthmore College:

•On-campus jobs •Swarthmore College-specific scholarships

---

Swarthmore College Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

---

Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Swarthmore College.

House and Food Costs at Swarthmore College

Room and board at Swarthmore College costs $18,964 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that enables you to eat in the school dining facilities.

Board costs vary based on on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Swarthmore College?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be optional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges offer resources so that those with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Transportation costs

The cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

The location of a college or university can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in an urban area is sometimes expensive, but there may be more trains, busses or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. The Swarthmore College campus is located in a suburb in Pennsylvania, not far from Philadelphia.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for the cost of things like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

---

Financial Breakdown for Swarthmore College

---

Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to Swarthmore College.

How Much Does Swarthmore College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Swarthmore College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$61,992
Room and Board	$18,964
Other expenses	$1,540

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$82,916
Off-Campus	$63,952

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

---

Swarthmore College Financial Aid

---

The majority of Swarthmore College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2023, 832 of the 1,625 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Swarthmore College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $64,615 a year. Around 21% of Swarthmore College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Swarthmore College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $25,795 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$14,281
Swarthmore College-Specific Loans	$1,415
Private Loans	$61,849

Most Common Loans for Swarthmore College Students
Federal Loans	19%
Institutional Loans	1%
Private loans	4%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Swarthmore College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Swarthmore College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Swarthmore College awarded 832 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $50.6 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $2.47 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Swarthmore College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Swarthmore College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Swarthmore College was $64,615 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Swarthmore College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$18,301
Off-Campus	$-663

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending Swarthmore College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Swarthmore College's net cost calculator on their website.

Swarthmore College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Swarthmore College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Swarthmore College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Swarthmore College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Swarthmore College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Swarthmore College's endowment was $2.9 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $38,762 for each full-time student enrolled.

---

Learn More About Swarthmore College

---

Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Swarthmore College:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

See what others are saying about Swarthmore College in the College Confidential forums