Swarthmore Housing Costs

$1,967 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What Are the Living Expenses at Swarthmore?

Room, board, and other expenses can add up to a significant amount. How much does this school charge for these necessities at Swarthmore College.

On this page you will find:

Living Expenses Outline
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Room and Board Expenses at Swarthmore

This school offers students separate housing and dining options. The on-campus housing charge for an average student was $10,478 in 2026, with the price of an average meal plan at $9,830. Altogether, an on-campus student at Swarthmore College budgeted around $25,169 in 2026 for room, board, books and other living costs combined.

Get an idea of what the costs will be for on-campus housing, meals and other expenses at Swarthmore College.

Expense	On Campus
Room and Board	$22,442
— Housing	$10,478
— Meals	$9,830
Other Living Expenses	$1,967
Books and Supplies	$760
Total	$25,169

Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses? Forecasted Cost is $115,059

Room and board is a moving target: it tends to creep up every year you are enrolled. Estimating the trend now makes for a more accurate four-year budget.

At the projected rate, four years of on-campus living costs would total roughly $115,059 by the time you graduate.

Here is how combined on-campus room and board has moved over the last few reported years, with a projection of where it is headed, at Swarthmore College.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$19,002
Two Years Ago	$19,926
One Year Ago	$20,931
Most Recent Year (2026)	$22,442
One Year From Now *	$23,796
Two Years From Now *	$25,232
Three Years From Now *	$26,754
Four Years From Now *	$28,369

* estimated

Most recently, on-campus costs increased an average of 6.0% a year over the last three years. If current trends continue, incoming first-year students would pay about $26,523 in housing, food and other costs their first year.

Continuing the same trend, the final-year cost would be roughly $31,096 in year four — and a two-year student about $27,959 for the last year of an associate degree.

Over a four-year stay, the projected room, board and living-cost total is about $115,059 for four years, or about $54,482 for a two-year (associate) degree.

Budget for Annual Increases

Room and board tends to rise year over year at most schools, so a freshman should expect to pay more by senior year.

Meal Plans and Housing Requirements at Swarthmore

Meal plans differ by school; some use a card balance while this school offers plans based on meals per week. The table below shows the maximum number of meals per week available. Wondering whether you may be required to live on campus? See the table below for on-campus housing details.