Swarthmore College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Swarthmore College charges a net price of $23,149/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $92,596. Graduates earn a median $80,257 ten years after entry, $31,897/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.9 years — a 20-year net return of $545,344, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Swarthmore College's 2.9-year payback ranks #169 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 87% of them, and #5 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,149/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $92,596 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $80,257 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $31,897/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $17,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $545,344 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Swarthmore College's own numbers. Net price $23,149 × 4 years = $92,596 total. Median earnings $80,257 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $31,897 a year of premium. $92,596 ÷ $31,897 = 2.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $545,344. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Swarthmore College students graduate with?
A median $17,500 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $80,257 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Swarthmore College students graduate?
92% finish their degree. Spread the $92,596 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $100,648 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Swarthmore College expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $23,149 net price runs $1,408 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $5,632 more across the full degree.