Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $49,053 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $24.8K more than the national median. The 57% who received grants paid $22,469 on average; the other 43% paid the full sticker price of $84,103.
- Full price
- $84,103 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Published data end at $110K
- use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $8K a year |
| $30–48K | $5K a year |
| $48–75K | $11K a year |
| $75–110K | $22K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
- A sibling in college may lower the parent share at Swarthmore College: Siblings entering or leaving college decrease or increase the parent contribution.
$49,053
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
57% got grants averaging $61,634; 43% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$17.5K
≈ $186/month for 10 years
2.4 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 9 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full40–44%
- Paying it down25–29%
- Payments paused20–28%
- Not paying it down5–9%
- Behind or in default0–10%
- Forgiven or discharged0–5%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
GenerousGrants cover 42% of the $84,103 full price on average across all first-years (generous), more than at 54% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.
$35,050 in grants per first-year ÷ $84,103 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (415), 2023–24
About 1 in 2 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $84,103.
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (415)
- Federal aid + grants119avg grant $65.6K
- Grants, no federal aid117avg grant $57.6K
- No grants179pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (128 of 415), because income is only reported for them.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Swarthmore College (2026–27), 2026–27;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)