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Swarthmore College creates an unusual changing in Pennsylvania's Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages market, offering the state's most affordable net cost at $18,686 despite its ultra-selective 6.93% acceptance rate. The $21,977 gap between Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr reflects how financial aid policies vary dramatically among elite institutions. Pennsylvania's growing Eastern European immigrant communities, particularly around Philadelphia, create demand for language specialists in healthcare interpretation and cultural liaison roles at major employers like UPMC and Temple Health. The state's 12 programs range from $18,686 to $40,690 in net costs, with public universities like West Chester offering in-state tuition under $11,000.
12
Programs
$18,686 – $40,690
Net Price Range
82.0%
Avg. Graduation Rate

12 Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $18,686 $62,412 94.1% 6.9%
2 $21,409 $35,570 57.9% 94.3%
3 $22,673 $10,687 69.8% 87.9%
4 $25,210 $68,300 89.4% 14.2%
5 $27,663 $56,402 68.9% 76.2%
6 $29,219 $22,082 74.7% 79.7%
7 $30,074 $21,524 84.3% 49.1%
8 $31,229 $66,104 96.8% 6.5%
9 $31,671 $63,829 92.5% 11.3%
10 $32,191 $63,475 83.4% 34.9%
11 $40,429 $64,772 86.2% 32.6%
12 $40,690 $62,560 85.6% 30.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Swarthmore's $18,686 net cost possible for such a selective program?

Swarthmore's need-blind admissions and generous financial aid allow students from families earning under $60,000 to attend tuition-free. The college meets 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans, making it more affordable than many public options despite its $62,412 sticker price.

How do public university costs compare to private colleges for this major?

West Chester University charges $22,673 net cost versus private colleges averaging over $30,000. However, Temple University at $29,219 net cost offers urban advantages and research opportunities that smaller programs cannot match.

Is the 94.10% graduation rate at Swarthmore typical for Slavic language programs?

Swarthmore's 94.10% rate significantly exceeds the group average of 79.5%. Only University of Pennsylvania approaches this level at 96.80%, while programs like La Salle achieve 57.90% despite lower selectivity.

Where do Pennsylvania graduates in Slavic languages typically find employment?

Healthcare systems like UPMC employ interpreters for Russian and Polish-speaking patients. Government agencies and international businesses in Philadelphia also recruit graduates for translation and cultural consulting roles.

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.