Santa Clara U vs Swarthmore
Santa Clara University and Swarthmore College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Santa Clara, a Jesuit university located in the heart of Silicon Valley, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. Swarthmore, a private liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, is known for its rigorous academic programs and its commitment to social justice. With acceptance rates of 54% and 11%, respectively, both universities are highly selective. While Santa Clara's popular majors include engineering, computer science, and business, Swarthmore's strengths lie in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these institutions' student demographics, graduation rates, and other key factors, and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Santa Clara University |
![]() Swarthmore College |
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Overview |
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Location | Santa Clara, California | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 54.0% | 7.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$73
|
$60 |
SAT range | 1330 - 1490 | 1430 - 1560 |
ACT range | 30 - 33 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 23.0% | 39.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 16.0% | 21.0% |
Total number of applicants | 16,848 | 13,012 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,095 | 1,013 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,549 | 454 |
Yield rate | 17.0% | 44.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | 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 | $78,999 | $75,793 |
Average net price | $48,469 | $19,733 |
Tuition | $55,224 | $55,856 |
Room & board | $16,533 |
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) |
73.0%
Average amount $23,770 |
76.0%
Average amount $40,072 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
24.0%
Average amount $5,138 |
6.0%
Average amount $5,191 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $30,446 |
1.0%
Average amount $30,543 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,895
Men 52.7% Women 47.3% |
1,651
Men 49.7% Women 50.3% |
Graduate students |
3,023
Men 46.0% Women 54.0% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 44.6% | 89.9% |
International students | 12.6% | 15.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,551 | 1,605 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Washington Colorado Oregon 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 | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 90.9% | 94.1% |
Dropout rate | 9.0% | 5.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (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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