Swarthmore College vs. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Swat or Carnegie Mellon?“
Swarthmore College
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Swarthmore College and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Swarthmore College and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Swarthmore College and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Swarthmore College | Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $47,442 | $50,665 |
| Net Price | $21,858 | $34,857 |
| Average Financial Aid | $44,086 | $35,978 |
| Total Undergraduates | 1566 | 5964 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1340 - 1530 | 1360 - 1540 |
| Acceptance Rate | 12 | 24 |
| Location | 500 College Ave | 5000 Forbes Avenue |
| City Name | Swarthmore | Pittsburgh |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Swarthmore College is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Swarthmore and Pittsburgh. Swat is in a Mid-Atlantic and Carnegie Mellon is in a Mid-Atlantic - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Swarthmore College or Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Swarthmore College is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Swarthmore College is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Swat Dorms Compare to housing Options at Carnegie Mellon?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Swat charges for on-campus living, while Carnegie Mellon charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Swat and Carnegie Mellon student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Swarthmore College, % | Carnegie Mellon,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 42.21 | 31.71 |
| Hispanic | 12.9 | 8.1 |
| Black | 6.069999999999999 | 4.68 |
| Foreign | 10.79 | 17.84 |
| Others | 28 | 37.7 |
How different is the Swarthmore College campus compared to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) campus?
The Swat campus is located in Swarthmore, PA and is characterized as Suburb: Large (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population of 250,000 or more). The Carnegie Mellon campus is located in Pittsburgh, PA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Swat provides $44,086 whereas Carnegie Mellon provides an average of $35,978.
How does Swat academics compare to Carnegie Mellon?
When analyzing academics between Swarthmore College and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Swat | Carnegie Mellon |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 2 | N/A |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | 45 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 5 | N/A |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | N/A |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 35 | 168 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 35 | 351 |
| Education | 21 | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Swarthmore College or Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Swat and Carnegie Mellon. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Swat social life compare to Carnegie Mellon?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Swat social life differs from Carnegie Mellon.
Check here.
Check here.