Engineering at Swarthmore College

Engineering programs at Pennsylvania schools show substantial variation in outcomes, and Swarthmore's estimated figures place it squarely in the middle of that pack. Based on comparable programs in the state, first-year earnings around $65,000 with debt of $26,500 produce a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41—meaning roughly five months of earnings to cover the full debt load. That's a reasonable starting point, though several peer institutions in Pennsylvania report significantly stronger outcomes, with Lafayette and Wilkes graduates earning $75,000 or more in their first year.

What makes this picture complicated is Swarthmore's highly selective profile. With a 7% admission rate and average SAT scores around 1500, the school competes with elite institutions nationally. Yet similar programs in Pennsylvania suggest earnings that trail the national engineering median by about $3,000. The estimation here matters: Swarthmore's actual engineering cohort may be too small to report separately, which could mean outcomes differ substantially from these state-based figures. Elite liberal arts colleges often produce engineering graduates who pursue graduate school or non-traditional paths, which can depress immediate earnings even as long-term prospects remain strong.

For families considering a $200,000+ investment in Swarthmore, these estimated figures offer limited reassurance. The debt itself appears manageable, but if you're paying premium prices, you'd want evidence of premium outcomes—and the data simply doesn't exist to confirm that here.