Barnard College vs Swarthmore College

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Choosing the right college can be a challenging decision, with many factors to consider. This guide will compare Barnard College and Swarthmore College in terms of costs, admissions, academics, diversity, student life, and more. By examining these aspects of each school, you’ll be better equipped to determine which college best meets your needs and preferences.

CollegeRanker is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Barnard College Overview

Barnard College, a private women’s liberal arts college, is affiliated with Columbia University. Located in New York City, Barnard offers its students the resources of a large research university while maintaining a small, close-knit community.

Barnard College Costs & Tuition

Barnard College’s tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 academic year are $57,668, with room and board estimated at $17,672. Financial aid packages are available, with 41% of students receiving need-based scholarships or grant awards. The average need-based scholarship or grant award is $51,256.

Barnard College Admissions

Admissions at Barnard College are competitive, with an acceptance rate of 11.8% in 2021. The middle 50% SAT score range for admitted students is 1370-1520, while the middle 50% ACT score range is 31-34. The admissions process is holistic, considering factors like academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and personal qualities.

Barnard College Degrees Offered

Barnard College offers over 50 areas of study, including popular majors like Psychology, Economics, and English. Students can also take advantage of the resources at Columbia University, allowing them to pursue a wide range of academic interests.

Barnard College Academics

With a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and an average class size of 20 students, Barnard College provides a supportive and engaging learning environment. Students have opportunities to participate in research, internships, and study abroad programs.

Barnard College Diversity

Barnard College values diversity and has a multicultural community, with 61% of students identifying as students of color. International students make up 12% of the student body, representing over 60 countries.

Barnard College Students

Barnard College has a total enrollment of 2,631 undergraduate students. The campus is known for its active and engaged student body, with over 100 student clubs and organizations available for students to join.

Barnard College Campus

Barnard College’s campus is located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City, offering students access to world-class cultural institutions, internships, and job opportunities. On-campus housing is guaranteed for all four years, with various living options available to accommodate different preferences.

Barnard College Alumni

Notable Barnard College alumni include writer Zora Neale Hurston, journalist Anna Quindlen, and actress Cynthia Nixon.

Barnard College Rankings

Barnard College is ranked #28 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by the U.S. News & World Report.

Barnard College Outcomes

Barnard College reports that 93% of graduates are employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation. The median starting salary for Barnard alumni is $58,600.

Swarthmore College Overview

Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts college, is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Known for its rigorous academics, Swarthmore emphasizes intellectual growth, community engagement, and social responsibility.

Swarthmore College Costs & Tuition

For the 2021-2022 academic year, Swarthmore College’s tuition and fees are $54,656, with room and board estimated at $16,416. Financial aid packages are available, with 56% of students receiving need-based scholarships or grant awards. The average need-based scholarship or grant award is $53,572.

Swarthmore College Admissions

Admissions at Swarthmore College are highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of 8.9% in 2021. The middle 50% SAT score range for admitted students is 1380-1540, while the middle 50% ACT score range is 31-34. The admissions process is holistic, considering factors like academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and personal qualities.

Swarthmore College Degrees Offered

Swarthmore College offers over 40 areas of study, including popular majors like Biology, Economics, and Political Science. Students can also take advantage of the resources at nearby Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College through the Tri-College Consortium.

Swarthmore College Academics

With a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of 12 students, Swarthmore College provides a supportive and engaging learning environment. Students have opportunities to participate in research, internships, and study abroad programs.

Swarthmore College Diversity

Swarthmore College values diversity and has a multicultural community, with 49% of students identifying as students of color. International students make up 14% of the student body, representing over 70 countries.

Swarthmore College Students

Swarthmore College has a total enrollment of 1,559 undergraduate students. The campus is known for its active and engaged student body, with over 100 student clubs and organizations available for students to join.

Swarthmore College Campus

Swarthmore College’s campus is located on a picturesque 425-acre arboretum, with easy access to Philadelphia. On-campus housing is guaranteed for all four years, with various living options available to accommodate different preferences.

Swarthmore College Alumni

Notable Swarthmore College alumni include author James Michener, chemist Stephanie Kwolek, and biologist David Baltimore.

Swarthmore College Rankings

Swarthmore College is ranked #3 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by the U.S. News & World Report.

Swarthmore College Outcomes

Swarthmore College reports that 93% of graduates are employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation. The median starting salary for Swarthmore alumni is $61,200.

Barnard College vs Swarthmore College Cost Comparison

Both Barnard College and Swarthmore College have similar tuition and fees, with Barnard at $57,668 and Swarthmore at $54,656. Room and board estimates are also comparable, with Barnard at $17,672 and Swarthmore at $16,416. Financial aid packages are available at both schools. Barnard offers an average need-based scholarship or grant award of $51,256, while Swarthmore offers an average award of $53,572.

Barnard College vs Swarthmore College Admissions Difficulty

Admissions at both Barnard College and Swarthmore College are highly competitive. Barnard has an acceptance rate of 11.8%, while Swarthmore’s acceptance rate is 8.9%. Both schools have similar middle 50% SAT and ACT score ranges for admitted students and consider factors like academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and personal qualities in their holistic admissions processes.

Barnard College vs Swarthmore College Academic Difficulty

Both Barnard College and Swarthmore College are known for their rigorous academics, with small class sizes and low student-faculty ratios. Barnard has a 9:1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 20, while Swarthmore has an 8:1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 12. Both schools offer numerous opportunities for research, internships, and study abroad programs.

Barnard College vs Swarthmore College Outcome Comparison

Both Barnard College and Swarthmore College have strong post-graduation outcomes, with 93% of graduates from each school employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation. The median starting salary for Barnard alumni is $58,600, while Swarthmore alumni earn a slightly higher median starting salary of $61,200.