Lafayette College vs Swarthmore College: which has better ROI?
Swarthmore College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,596 in 2.9 years versus 3.2 years at Lafayette College, on median earnings of $80,257 vs $91,410 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lafayette College | Swarthmore College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,433 | $23,149 |
| Total net cost | $137,732 | $92,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $91,410 | $80,257 |
| Median debt | $16,000 | $17,500 |
| Payback | 3.2 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $723,268 | $545,344 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lafayette College or Swarthmore College?
Swarthmore College, at $23,149 a year after aid versus $34,433 — a gap of $11,284 a year, or $45,136 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lafayette College or Swarthmore College graduates earn more?
Lafayette College graduates report a median $91,410 ten years after entry, $11,153 more than the $80,257 at Swarthmore College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Lafayette College or Swarthmore College?
Lafayette College: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $17,500 at Swarthmore College, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
92% of students finish at Swarthmore College, against 88% at Lafayette College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.