Knox College vs Swarthmore
Knox College and Swarthmore College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Knox, nestled in Galesburg, Illinois, boasts a 68% acceptance rate, while Swarthmore, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is more selective with a 13% acceptance rate. Knox students pursue diverse interests, with popular majors including Biology, Psychology, and Business Administration. Swarthmore's curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, with popular majors such as Engineering, Economics, and Political Science. Knox's student body is predominantly White (69%) and female (58%), while Swarthmore's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population (13%) and a more balanced gender ratio (51% female, 49% male). Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Knox at 75% and Swarthmore at 93%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and
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![]() Knox College |
![]() Swarthmore College |
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Overview |
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Location | Galesburg, Illinois | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.2% | 7.8% |
Application fees | $60 | |
SAT range | 1150 - 1380 | 1430 - 1560 |
ACT range | 24 - 31 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 41.0% | 39.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 21.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,061 | 13,012 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,150 | 1,013 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 270 | 454 |
Yield rate | 12.6% | 44.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $63,997 | $75,793 |
Average net price | $25,476 | $19,733 |
Tuition | $50,784 | $55,856 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,040
Meal plan:
$5,181
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Room/dormitory:
$8,796
Meal plan:
$8,354
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $36,738 |
76.0%
Average amount $40,072 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
67.0%
Average amount $6,454 |
6.0%
Average amount $5,191 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $15,133 |
1.0%
Average amount $30,543 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,156
Men 43.3% Women 56.7% |
1,651
Men 49.7% Women 50.3% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 59.7% | 89.9% |
International students | 15.9% | 15.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,156 | 1,605 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois California Missouri Indiana Texas | New York California Pennsylvania New Jersey Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 11:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 75.1% | 94.1% |
Dropout rate | 6.0% | 5.7% |
Transferred out | 18.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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