Is Barnard or Swarthmore harder to get into?

Swarthmore is harder to get into than Barnard. Swarthmore's 7.5% acceptance rate is lower than Barnard's 8.8%.

Which is cheaper, Barnard or Swarthmore?

Swarthmore costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Swarthmore's average net price is $23,149 vs $28,800 at Barnard.

Which has higher post-graduation earnings, Barnard or Swarthmore?

Barnard graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $80,516 at Barnard and $80,257 at Swarthmore.

Barnard vs. Swarthmore: Acceptance Rate, SAT, Cost & Outcomes Compared

Metric	Barnard	Swarthmore
Acceptance rate	8.8%	7.5%
SAT mid-50%	1470–1560	1490–1560
ACT mid-50%	32–34	33–35
Cost of attendance	$89,538	$84,103
Avg net price (after aid)	$28,800	$23,149
Undergrad enrollment	3,264	1,613
6-yr graduation rate	93.0%	92.3%
Median earnings (10yr)	$80,516	$80,257
Setting	New York, New York	Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

The Real Differences

Swarthmore is modestly harder to get into. The 1.4-point gap matters at the margin but doesn't change the overall difficulty tier. Both schools draw similar applicant pools and admit similar profiles.

Swarthmore is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $5,651 per year, $22,604 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.

Barnard is substantially larger with 3,264 undergrads vs 1,613 at Swarthmore. Bigger universities have more major options and broader research opportunities; smaller ones offer more access to faculty and tighter-knit communities.

Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Barnard is in New York, New York; Swarthmore is in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.

Student Body Composition

The two schools have different student body compositions. Barnard is 100.0% women, 15.6% international, and 21.9% Asian-American. Swarthmore is 52.1% women, 13.4% international, and 16.6% Asian-American.

Demographic	Barnard	Swarthmore
Women	100.0%	52.1%
International	15.6%	13.4%
White	32.4%	30.3%
Asian	21.9%	16.6%
Hispanic	14.3%	15.5%
Black	5.5%	9.5%

Personalized estimate

What are your odds at Barnard vs. Swarthmore?

Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.

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The Verdict

Pick Barnard if

Your odds are realistic at Barnard (slightly easier admit)
Higher median post-grad earnings ($80,516 vs $80,257)
Higher 6-year graduation rate
its partnership with Columbia

Pick Swarthmore if

Net price matters: Swarthmore costs $5,651 less per year on average
the Honors program modeled on Oxford tutorials

Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.

Full School Pages

For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:

Full profile

Barnard College

8.8% accept · New York, New York

Full profile

Swarthmore College

7.5% accept · Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Sources

U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.

Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.

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Barnard College vs. Swarthmore College