Head-to-head comparison
Swarthmore College vs Immaculata University: which has better ROI?
Option A Swarthmore, PA
Swarthmore College
- Net price / year
- $23,149
- Earnings, 10 years
- $80,257
- Payback
- 2.9 yrs
Option B Immaculata, PA
Immaculata University
- Net price / year
- $24,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,701
- Payback
- 3.5 yrs
Swarthmore College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,596 in 2.9 years versus 3.5 years at Immaculata University, on median earnings of $80,257 vs $75,701 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Swarthmore College | Immaculata University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,149 | $24,258 |
| Total net cost | $92,596 | $97,032 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,257 | $75,701 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 2.9 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $545,344 | $449,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Swarthmore College or Immaculata University?
Swarthmore College, at $23,149 a year after aid versus $24,258 — a gap of $1,109 a year, or $4,436 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Swarthmore College or Immaculata University graduates earn more?
Swarthmore College graduates report a median $80,257 ten years after entry, $4,556 more than the $75,701 at Immaculata University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Swarthmore College or Immaculata University?
Swarthmore College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Immaculata University, a difference of $9,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
92% of students finish at Swarthmore College, against 71% at Immaculata University. 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.