How can a small community support your biggest ideas? With a curriculum unmatched among liberal arts colleges of its size and a unique commitment to affordability and access, Swarthmore College offers more than 600 courses across all disciplines — including an accredited engineering program.
And since we're focused exclusively on a world-class undergraduate experience, graduate-level opportunities are readily available. For starters, we offer over $800,000 in funding each year to help students pursue research and creative projects alongside dedicated professors — and a whopping two-thirds of Swatties participate.
Swarthmore's one-of-a-kind Honors Program, open to any student, inspires deep collaboration between students and faculty members, with examinations given by visiting industry experts.
Since its founding in 1864 by the Religious Society of Friends (aka Quakers), Swarthmore has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good.
Swarthmore College
500 College Avenue
|
Swarthmore,
PA |
19081
01. What the School is Known For
From the School
Check out our videos
Prominent Alumni
Eugene Lang '38
Philanthropist
Sandra Moore Faber '66
National Medal of Science Winner; Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Joesph Altuzarra '05
Fashion designer
Dawn Porer ?88
Filmmaker
John Mather '68
senior astrophysicist, NASA; 2006 Nobel Laureate
Jonathan Franzen '81
Award-winning author of Freedom and The Corrections
Antoinette Sayeh '79
Director of the African Department at the International Monetary Fund
Most Popular Places On Campus
Kohlberg & Eldridge Commons Coffee Bars
Parrish Beach (the central campus lawn)
Scott Outdoor Amphitheater
The Matchbox (wellness center)
Dining & Community Commons
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Philadelphia
Downtown Swarthmore
Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, UPenn
King of Prussia Mall
Media, Pa.
The Swarthmore campus is served by regional rail making travel to these and other destinations easy and convenient. Easy access to Philadelphia also allows for convenient travel to New York City and Washington, D.C. All Swarthmore students receive a free SEPTA Key Card that can be used anywhere on SEPTA?s network of subways, buses, trolleys, and regional rail lines during the fall and spring semesters ? September through December and February through May. During those months, the pass will be valid at all times and on all services provided by SEPTA, with a 240-ride limit per month (8 rides per day).
Social Media
02. Students
From The School
With more than 150 student clubs and organizations on campus, dozens of community service groups, 22 Division III varsity athletic teams, free lectures and performances occurring daily on campus, and full course loads, Swarthmore students actively engage in pursuits that matter to them.
Registered student club and organizations: 150+
Number of Honor Societies: 3
Number of Religious Organizations: 14
Athletic Division: Division III
Men's Sports (Garnet): 10 sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field Indoor
Track & Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Garnet): 12 sports
Badminton
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field Indoor
Track & Field Outdoor
Volleyball
What students say:
While some students say they are "not sure if there is a typical [Swarthmore student]," many agree that all "are really just smart students who care about the world and want to make it better." Students report that the campus "is very diverse racially..., pretty much everyone's liberal,... [and] multicultural and queer issues are big here." Another undergrad echoes the left-leaning and activist sentiments, saying that most here are "involved in some kind of activism group or multicultural group, talks about classes all the time, was labeled a nerd by people in high school, and is really smart." Above all else, there's one thing all enrollees have in common, which is that "each person here has at least one thing that [they do] extraordinarily well."
Gender
52% female48% male
Out of State
88% are out
of state12% are
in-state
of state12% are
in-state
Students
100% are
full time0% are
part time
full time0% are
part time
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,623
Foreign Countries Represented
53
Student Body Demographics
American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.50%
Asian
16.62%
Black
9.49%
Hispanic
15.50%
Caucasian
30.25%
Unknown
2.79%
International
13.39%
03. Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions
From the School:
First-year applicants may apply to Swarthmore via Common Application, Coalition on Scoir Application, or QuestBridge Application. Swarthmore does not have a preference among any of our application options. Please submit only one application in an application year.
Required Materials
Common Application, Coalition on Scoir Application, or QuestBridge Application
Swarthmore College Short Answer
As part of the Common Application and Coalition Application, you will be asked to submit no more than 250 words in response to each short answer question (QuestBridge applicants are asked the same question on our Swarthmore-QuestBridge Intent to Apply form). For the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, students will be asked to answer both of the following questions:
-Swarthmore College maintains an ongoing commitment of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive residential community dedicated to rigorous intellectual inquiry.
All who engage in our community are empowered through the open exchange of ideas guided by equity and social responsibility to thrive and contribute as bridge builders within global communities.
Our identities and perspectives are supported and developed by our immediate contexts and lived experiences — in our neighborhoods, families, classrooms, communities of faith, and more.
What aspects of your self-identity or personal background are most significant to you? Reflecting on the elements of your home, school, or other communities that have shaped your life, explain how you have grown in your ability to navigate differences when engaging with others, or demonstrated your ability to collaborate in communities other than your own.
-Swarthmore's community of learners inspire one another through their collaborative and flexible approach to learning. Swarthmore students are comfortable with intellectual experimentation and connection of ideas across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies through a liberal arts education.
Tell us about a topic that has fascinated you recently ? either inside or outside of the classroom. What made you curious about this? Has this topic connected across other areas of your interests? How has this experience shaped you and what encourages you to keep exploring?
$60 application fee or fee waiver*
School report
School counselor recommendation
High school transcript
Midyear grades: If your school does not have midyear grades, please provide a midyear progress report from your teachers.
Two academic-subject teacher recommendations/evaluations
*Eligible students for application-fee waivers to Swarthmore College are determined by Swarthmore College, Common Application, Coalition Application, NACAC, the College Board, or the ACT. All students with financial need are welcome to complete SwatPass to find out if you qualify for an application-fee waiver.
Optional Materials
Self-reported or official standardized test scores (). For students applying to Swarthmore in the current cycle, we have suspended our requirement that applicants submit SAT or ACT scores. Instead, test scores are optional.
Swarthmore offers optional . Please note that applicants who do not interview are not at a disadvantage.
All students have the option to submit a video response as a supplement to your application. We want to hear directly from you and give you the chance to give us unique insight into your thought process or experiences. After you submit your application, you will have the option to record a video response in your Swarthmore application portal. Application portals open by mid-October
Students with especially strong backgrounds and interest in pursuing the arts at Swarthmore can share samples of their work via , free of charge. Additionally, we accept supplements in creative writing (written or spoken-word poetry and fiction), dance (performance and choreography), music (performance and composition), theater, and the visual arts. Submissions provide our Admissions Committee with examples of students' artistic talents and are subject to faculty review. Please know, however, that we cannot guarantee all works will be evaluated.
Please review and deadlines for first-year applicants.
Applicants
13,057
Acceptance Rate
7%
Deadlines
Early Decision
November 15
Early Decision II
January 4
Regular
January 4
GPA Breakdown
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn MoreSAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
740 - 770
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
750 - 790
SAT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1500 - 1530
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
33 - 35
What would you score on the digital SAT today?
Testing Policies
Yes
Yes
Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
use in admission:
Test Optional
Other Admission Factors Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Class Rank
Academic GPA
Application Essay
Recommendation(s)
Non-Academic
Character / Personal Qualities
Selectivity
98/99
04. Academics
From the School
Swarthmore offers more than 600 courses, 50+ majors, and boundless undergraduate research opportunities.
Your first semester is pass-fail, so you can begin your time here by learning for learning's sake and embark on an unfettered journey of discovery. The Honors Program, open to any student, inspires deep collaboration between students and faculty members, with examinations given by outside experts. And where else can you delve into as invigorating a liberal arts curriculum paired with an accredited engineering program?
Swarthmore students generally spend their first two years exploring and taking various disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Once you have a strong sense of your interests and skills, you'll select a major or craft your own special major — your focus of study for the last two years.
What students say
Pennsylvania's Swarthmore College is a hidden gem that encourages self-discovery through a liberal arts curriculum that is "not only about classes, but about life." Students agree that "though it may be extremely, almost unbearably difficult sometimes, it's totally worth it," and that "although it's not one of the most well-known schools, those who do know of it also know of its wonderful reputation." Everyone's first semester is pass-fail to reinforce the fact that learning is the ultimate goal, but this doesn't mean that anyone slacks off at this open, thriving campus-in fact, one in three graduates goes on to pursue or earn a doctoral degree. Rather, students understand that Swarthmore is "where to go for a real education-for learning for the sake of truly learning, rather than just for grades." Students also appreciate that "Swarthmore is amazingly flexible. The requirements are very limited, allowing you to explore whatever you are interested in and change your mind millions of times about your major and career path. If they don't offer a major you want, you can design your own with ease." While some do admit that constant intellectual examination can be "stressful," they say that "there are tons of resources to help youprofessors, academic mentors, writing associates (who are really helpful to talk to when you have major papers), residential assistants, psychological counseling, multicultural support groups, queer/trans support groups-basically, whenever you need help with something, there's someone you can talk to." One satisfied student ties a neat bow around the present that is Swarthmore: "[It] has a lovely campus, the people are almost unbelievably friendly, it's a safe environment, and it's really, really challenging academically."
Student/Faculty
7.4 : 1
Total Faculty
245
Terminal Degree
227
Gender to Class Inforamtion
Men
128
Women
117
Minority
71
International
12
Class/Lab sizes
Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19
Rating
Graduation Rates
University Degrees
Bachelor's
Majors and Degrees Offered
Swarthmore College awards two degrees, the bachelor of arts and the bachelor of science.
Ancient History
Anthropology*
Arabic
Architectural Studies
Art*
Art History
Asian American Studies
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Biochemistry
Biology
Black Studies
Chemical Physics
Chemistry
Chinese
Chinese Studies
Classics
Cognitive Science
Comparative Literature*
Computer Science
Dance
Economics*
Educational Studies
Engineering
English Literature
Environmental Studies
Film & Media Studies
French & Francophone Studies
Gender & Sexuality Studies
German Studies
Global Studies
Greek
History
Interdisciplinary Programs
Interpretation Theory
Islamic Studies
Japanese
Japanese Language, Literature, and Culture
Latin
Latin American & Latino Studies
Linguistics
Mathematics
Medical Anthropology
Medieval Studies
Modern Languages & Literatures
Music
Neuroscience
Peace & Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science*
Psychology
Religion
Russian
Sociology*
Spanish
Statistics
Theater
Design Your Own Major
*only available as a major or Honors minor
05. Campus Life
Location
Swarthmore offers the best of both worlds. On our idyllic, 425-acre campus with world-renowned gardens and sprawling woods you'll find over 4,000 species of plants, heritage trees, a winding creek, hiking trails, and sun-soaked meadows. Yet, only 11 miles away lies the city of Philadelphia — accessible from campus by a quick, 25 minute train ride. In fact, all students are provided with a free transit pass to take in and out of the city and around the region. In the city, you'll find internship opportunities, vibrant cultural offerings, diverse cuisines, and world-class museums. From there, you can then easily catch a 90-minute train to New York City or a two-hour train to Washington D.C. And the best part? You'll have a peaceful, green oasis awaiting your return.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Swarthmore provides a dynamic collection of spaces to explore and develop your academic and extracurricular passions. These include an array of art spaces and professional theater facilities for students to enjoy visiting performers or stage their own productions. You can attend an art opening at the Kitao Student Gallery or take a workshop at the Gender and Sexuality Center.
The Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center provides programs and services that support the personal and intellectual development of Asian American, Latinx, multiracial, Native American, LGBTQ+, low-income, international, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The Black Cultural Center's goal is to support a thriving and inclusive Black campus community, and it serves as a space for a range of student-centered programming and activities.
The Matchbox fitness center and other athletic facilities like the Mullan Tennis Center and Costonis '92 Golf Center offer a multifaceted, modern approach to wellness, recreation, and community, along with our swimming facility and robust resources for our 22 Division III teams.
Regardless of your major, you can learn a new dialect through immersion in the Language Center, make sense of the universe in the Peter Van de Kamp Observatory, or connect your studies to your communities beyond campus through the Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility. Singer Hall, which brings together the Biology, Engineering, and Psychology departments, serves as a model of environmentally intelligent construction that will help the College achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035.
Whether students are teaming up to design a prototype in the state-of-the-art MakerSpace, sharing conversations in a cozy eight-person house or a lively 200-person residence hall, meeting up over locally grown food in our new Dining and Community Commons, or taking a study break in one of several campus coffee bars, the abundance of campus resources permeates all aspects of life at Swarthmore.
Underpinning our robust facilities is the College's ambitious energy plan, To Zero By Thirty-Five (20X35). This plan charts a transformative path to efficient, combustion-free energy on campus. By 2035, buildings across campus will be connected to a new heating and cooling geoexchange system. Powered by renewable energy, the process extracts heat from buildings during the summer and stores it underground for use in the winter — all while producing zero carbon emissions. Together with ongoing energy efficiency improvements across campus buildings, onsite solar and off-site renewable energy procurement, and a standby electricity generation plant, the College is positioned to significantly reduce our carbon emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2035.
Off-Campus Opportunities
The Tri-College Consortium, which connects us with Bryn Mawr and Haverford colleges, allows you to expand your social and academic opportunities across three stellar institutions. The Tri-Co Philly Program offers further curricular and co-curricular activities in Philadelphia. Students also have the option to enroll in one elective per semester at the University of Pennsylvania. Students also benefit from Swarthmore's early acceptance programs with Thomas Jefferson University's Sidney Kimmel Medical College Scholars Program and the University of Rochester.
Swarthmore encourages students to spend a semester or year studying abroad to enhance their degree programs. With 300+ approved programs, you can choose either a College program coordinated by Swarthmore faculty members, a direct-enrollment program at a university abroad, or one of a broad array of other study-abroad programs. Students are billed for study abroad like a typical Swarthmore semester and all financial aid decisions travel with them.
Beyond study abroad, Swarthmore Career Services provides a host of opportunities including career mentorship, career advice and counseling, and programs like Swatworks, which connects students with alumni working in an array of professional settings. SwatWorks's Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. The program helps students to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as Swarthmore alumni and parents mentor them.
The Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility also creates opportunities around the globe, with engaged scholarship opportunities like internships with social justice organizations, research with faculty members, and projects with community partners. These beyond-the-classroom experiences can be a crucial bridge between your academic pursuits and the people and issues you care about.
The town of Swarthmore itself, known as "The Ville," offers a variety of local shops, restaurants, and gathering spaces immediately outside campus and can be accessed by foot or the College's free shuttle service.
What students say:
Around 95 percent of Swarthmore's students live on the school's beautiful arboretum campus and they appreciate its feeling of community. Students say they are "a family... who are engaged in academics, learning, politics, activism, and civic responsibility, with a work hard, play hard, intense mentality, who don't get enough sleep because they're too busy doing all they want to do in their time here." One student says of the small school's impressive array of extracurriculars: "There are so many organizations and clubs on campus that you'd be pressed to find none of the activities interesting" and another adds, "there is almost always something to do." In addition, there are "several parties every weekend," as well as "student musical performances, drama performances, movies, speakers, and comedy shows." Students shake their heads at the "misconception that Swarthmore students do nothing but study... while we certainly do a lot of it, we still find many ways to have fun."
75%
Students
94%
First-Year Students
100%
Campus Environment
Village
Help finding off-campus housing
No
06. Housing & Activities
Hosting Features
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Dorms Male
Other
Special Needs Admissions
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
150
Number of Honor Societies
3
Number of Social Sororities
0
Join a fraternity
0%
Join a sorority
0%
07. Sports & Athletics
Athletic Division III
Participate in intercollegiate sports
26%
Men's Sports (Garnet)
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Garnet)
Basketball
Cross Country
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
08. Student Services
Military
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: St. Joseph's University
Sustainability
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes
% food budget spent on local/organic food
1%
Green rating
94/99
Available Transportation Alternatives
Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus
School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
School Developed Bicycle Plan
CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit Â鶹ɫÇéƬ's page
on campus safety for additional resources:
Visit Page
Â鶹ɫÇéƬ publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education:
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Fee for Network Use
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Description Apple, Dell
09. Mental Health
Wellness Program/Clinical Offerings
Institution has a mental health/wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and well-being services available to all students
Not Reported
Mental Health Website
Education & Training
Types of training available for students and faculty/staff
Program
Availability
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Available for faculty & staff;
Not Reported
Other:
Available for all students;
Available for faculty & staff;
Available for faculty & staff;
Other trainings description:
Red Folder - Recognize, Respond, Refer training (similar to QPR)
Engaging the Whole Campus
Institution has a Chief Behavioral Health Officer (and/or Chief Wellness Officer)
Not Reported
Peer-to-Peer
Institution has peer-to-peer offerings relating to mental health
Not Reported
Residential Life
Institution incorporates mental health and wellness into the residential experience
Yes
A brief description of offerings:
RA recieve training on recognizing and supporting people in distress and there are a wide range of workshops, tabling, and events geared toward overall mental health and wellbeing.
Student Orientation
Students who are provided an opportunity to participate in mental-health-orientation activities
First-year students
Services offered
Incoming transfer students
Not Reported
Returning students
Not Reported
Entering graduate students
Not Reported
Mental Health in the Curriculum
The institution offers for-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
well-being education for students
Not Reported
Details of for-credit offering:
There is a wellbeing class taught every Fall semester by the Health Educator.
The institution offers non-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
well-being education for students
Not Reported
Off-Campus Offerings
Institution offers referrals to off-campus counseling services
Yes
Health and Counseling Center Accreditation
Institution's counseling center is accredited
No
Accrediting body
Not Reported
Taking and Returning from Medical Leave
Institution has an official support program in place for students returning from mental health leave of absence
Yes
Counseling Demand
Number of months a year counseling center is open and fully staffed
10 months
10. Campus Visits
Campus Visits Contact
Admissions Office 500 College Ave. Swarthmore, PA 19081
admissions@swarthmore.edu
610-328-8300
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
Mon-Fri year round; Sat in spring & fall
8:30am-4:30pm; 9am-noon
6103288300
Campus Tours
Appointment Required:
Yes
Dates:
Varies
Times:
Varies
Average Length:
1 hour
Visits
CLASS VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
FACULTY AND COACH VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly
Advance Notice
2 weeks
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews:
Yes
Information Sessions:
Available
Times:
varies
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Limitations
Available through special programs only; Discover Swarthmore and Swatlight
Campus Tours
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS
Philadelphia International Airport is approximately a 20-minute drive from campus. Ride share, Taxis, rental cars, or SEPTA commuter trains are available. Amtrak trains serve Philadelphia?s 30th St. Station, and from there visitors may take the SEPTA Media/Elwyn Line to the Swarthmore station on the edge of campus. Greyhound buses serve Philadelphia from many cities.
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11. Career Services & Jobs
What students say
Swarthmore’s Career Services does its part to help students reach their fullest potential by offering a variety of useful resources. Personalized career counseling advises undergrads on their options for major selection, internships, externships, and graduate school applications. A packed events calendar lets students network with alums, attend panel discussions, and impress potential employers at recruiting consortiums. The office maintains three separate internship databases for students and funds internships via its Summer Experiential Fellows program—40 percent of students complete an internship, and 50 percent participate in research projects. The college also offers SwatWorks, a program that matches students with alumni and parent volunteers to provide mentorship and access to short-term, funded micro-internships. Alums who visited PayScale.com reported a median starting salary of $77,100, and 49 percent think their work makes the world a better place.
Graduation Rates
Career Services
01 - Alumni Network
02 - Alumni Services
03 - Classes
04 - Interest Inventory
05 - Internships
06 - Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
01 - Experiential
02 - Internship
ROI & Outcomes Information from PayScale
Starting Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$79,700
Mid-Career Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$154,900
Starting Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$82,900
Mid-Career Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$159,900
Percent High Job Meaning
44%
Percent STEM
41%
12. Majors
01 AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
- African-American/Black Studies.
- Asian Studies/Civilization.
- German Studies.
- Latin American Studies.
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies.
- Women's Studies.
02 BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
- Biochemistry.
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other.
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
- Neuroscience.
03 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
- Computer and Information Sciences, General.
04 EDUCATION.
- Education, General.
- Education, Other.
05 ENGINEERING.
- Engineering, General.
06 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
- English Language and Literature, General.
07 FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
- Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature.
- Chinese Language and Literature.
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
- Comparative Literature.
- French Language and Literature.
- German Language and Literature.
- Japanese Language and Literature.
- Latin Language and Literature.
- Linguistics.
- Russian Language and Literature.
- Spanish Language and Literature.
08 HISTORY.
- History, General.
09 MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
- Mathematics, General.
10 MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
- Classical, Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology.
- Cognitive Science.
- International/Global Studies.
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
11 NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
- Environmental Studies.
12 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
- Islamic Studies.
- Philosophy.
- Religion/Religious Studies.
13 PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
- Astronomy.
- Astrophysics.
- Chemical Physics.
- Chemistry, General.
- Physics, General.
14 PSYCHOLOGY.
- Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology.
- Psychology, General.
- Psychology, Other.
15 SOCIAL SCIENCES.
- Economics, General.
- Medical Anthropology.
- Political Science and Government, General.
- Sociology and Anthropology.
16 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
- Dance, General.
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other.
- Fine/Studio Arts, General.
- Music, General.
13. Tuition & Cost
14. Financial Aid
Dates
Application DeadlinesJan 4
Notification DateApr 1
Required Forms
FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Swarthmore's commitment to financial aid and access is at the core of our educational mission. We understand that students come to the College from a variety of economic backgrounds, and we strive to make it possible for all admitted students to attend Swarthmore, regardless of their ability to pay. We meet 100% of the determined need of all admitted students through loan-free aid decisions.
In 2023-24 52% of the student body received need-based Swarthmore scholarship aid from an overall financial aid budget of more than $56 million. Our financial aid offers consist of grants (which do not need to be repaid) and the expectation that students will work in a part-time college job. Although Swarthmore financial aid awards are loan-free, some families choose to borrow through a private loan to pay a portion of the educational expenses.
Swarthmore also practices "need-blind" admissions, which means the decisions about your admission to Swarthmore and your financial aid eligibility are made independently if you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented/DACA student graduating from a U.S. high school.
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$70,208
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$69,022
Average Need-Based Loan
$0
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
18%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$33,077
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based Aid
01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Pell
03 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
04 - Need-Based SEOG
05 - Need-Based State Scholarships
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
01 - Direct PLUS Loans
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):
01 - State Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
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Read More01. Overview
From the School
How can a small community support your biggest ideas? With a curriculum unmatched among liberal arts colleges of its size and a unique commitment to affordability and access, Swarthmore College offers more than 600 courses across all disciplines — including an accredited engineering program.
And since we're focused exclusively on a world-class undergraduate experience, graduate-level opportunities are readily available. For starters, we offer over $800,000 in funding each year to help students pursue research and creative projects alongside dedicated professors — and a whopping two-thirds of Swatties participate.
Swarthmore's one-of-a-kind Honors Program, open to any student, inspires deep collaboration between students and faculty members, with examinations given by visiting industry experts.
Since its founding in 1864 by the Religious Society of Friends (aka Quakers), Swarthmore has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good.
Check out our videos
Social Media
02. Rankings
Rankings and Lists
03. Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions
From the School:
First-year applicants may apply to Swarthmore via Common Application, Coalition on Scoir Application, or QuestBridge Application. Swarthmore does not have a preference among any of our application options. Please submit only one application in an application year.
Required Materials
Common Application, Coalition on Scoir Application, or QuestBridge Application
Swarthmore College Short Answer
As part of the Common Application and Coalition Application, you will be asked to submit no more than 250 words in response to each short answer question (QuestBridge applicants are asked the same question on our Swarthmore-QuestBridge Intent to Apply form). For the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, students will be asked to answer both of the following questions:
-Swarthmore College maintains an ongoing commitment of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive residential community dedicated to rigorous intellectual inquiry.
All who engage in our community are empowered through the open exchange of ideas guided by equity and social responsibility to thrive and contribute as bridge builders within global communities.
Our identities and perspectives are supported and developed by our immediate contexts and lived experiences — in our neighborhoods, families, classrooms, communities of faith, and more.
What aspects of your self-identity or personal background are most significant to you? Reflecting on the elements of your home, school, or other communities that have shaped your life, explain how you have grown in your ability to navigate differences when engaging with others, or demonstrated your ability to collaborate in communities other than your own.
-Swarthmore's community of learners inspire one another through their collaborative and flexible approach to learning. Swarthmore students are comfortable with intellectual experimentation and connection of ideas across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies through a liberal arts education.
Tell us about a topic that has fascinated you recently ? either inside or outside of the classroom. What made you curious about this? Has this topic connected across other areas of your interests? How has this experience shaped you and what encourages you to keep exploring?
$60 application fee or fee waiver*
School report
School counselor recommendation
High school transcript
Midyear grades: If your school does not have midyear grades, please provide a midyear progress report from your teachers.
Two academic-subject teacher recommendations/evaluations
*Eligible students for application-fee waivers to Swarthmore College are determined by Swarthmore College, Common Application, Coalition Application, NACAC, the College Board, or the ACT. All students with financial need are welcome to complete SwatPass to find out if you qualify for an application-fee waiver.
Optional Materials
Self-reported or official standardized test scores (). For students applying to Swarthmore in the current cycle, we have suspended our requirement that applicants submit SAT or ACT scores. Instead, test scores are optional.
Swarthmore offers optional . Please note that applicants who do not interview are not at a disadvantage.
All students have the option to submit a video response as a supplement to your application. We want to hear directly from you and give you the chance to give us unique insight into your thought process or experiences. After you submit your application, you will have the option to record a video response in your Swarthmore application portal. Application portals open by mid-October
Students with especially strong backgrounds and interest in pursuing the arts at Swarthmore can share samples of their work via , free of charge. Additionally, we accept supplements in creative writing (written or spoken-word poetry and fiction), dance (performance and choreography), music (performance and composition), theater, and the visual arts. Submissions provide our Admissions Committee with examples of students' artistic talents and are subject to faculty review. Please know, however, that we cannot guarantee all works will be evaluated.
Please review and deadlines for first-year applicants.
Applicants
13,057
Acceptance Rate
7%
Deadlines
Early Decision
November 15
Early Decision II
January 4
Regular
January 4
GPA Breakdown
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn MoreSAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
740 - 770
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
750 - 790
SAT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1500 - 1530
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
33 - 35
What would you score on the digital SAT today?
Testing Policies
Yes
Yes
Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
use in admission:
Test Optional
Other Admission Factors Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Class Rank
Academic GPA
Application Essay
Recommendation(s)
Non-Academic
Character / Personal Qualities
Selectivity
4. Cost, Tuition, Expenses
05. Academics
From the School
Swarthmore offers more than 600 courses, 50+ majors, and boundless undergraduate research opportunities.
Your first semester is pass-fail, so you can begin your time here by learning for learning's sake and embark on an unfettered journey of discovery. The Honors Program, open to any student, inspires deep collaboration between students and faculty members, with examinations given by outside experts. And where else can you delve into as invigorating a liberal arts curriculum paired with an accredited engineering program?
Swarthmore students generally spend their first two years exploring and taking various disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Once you have a strong sense of your interests and skills, you'll select a major or craft your own special major — your focus of study for the last two years.
What students say
Pennsylvania's Swarthmore College is a hidden gem that encourages self-discovery through a liberal arts curriculum that is "not only about classes, but about life." Students agree that "though it may be extremely, almost unbearably difficult sometimes, it's totally worth it," and that "although it's not one of the most well-known schools, those who do know of it also know of its wonderful reputation." Everyone's first semester is pass-fail to reinforce the fact that learning is the ultimate goal, but this doesn't mean that anyone slacks off at this open, thriving campus-in fact, one in three graduates goes on to pursue or earn a doctoral degree. Rather, students understand that Swarthmore is "where to go for a real education-for learning for the sake of truly learning, rather than just for grades." Students also appreciate that "Swarthmore is amazingly flexible. The requirements are very limited, allowing you to explore whatever you are interested in and change your mind millions of times about your major and career path. If they don't offer a major you want, you can design your own with ease." While some do admit that constant intellectual examination can be "stressful," they say that "there are tons of resources to help youprofessors, academic mentors, writing associates (who are really helpful to talk to when you have major papers), residential assistants, psychological counseling, multicultural support groups, queer/trans support groups-basically, whenever you need help with something, there's someone you can talk to." One satisfied student ties a neat bow around the present that is Swarthmore: "[It] has a lovely campus, the people are almost unbelievably friendly, it's a safe environment, and it's really, really challenging academically."
Student/Faculty
7.4 : 1
Total Faculty
245
Terminal Degree
227
Gender to Class Inforamtion
Men
128
Women
117
Minority
71
International
12
Class/Lab sizes
Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19
Rating
Graduation Rates
University Degrees
Bachelor's
Majors and Degrees Offered
Swarthmore College awards two degrees, the bachelor of arts and the bachelor of science.
Ancient History
Anthropology*
Arabic
Architectural Studies
Art*
Art History
Asian American Studies
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Biochemistry
Biology
Black Studies
Chemical Physics
Chemistry
Chinese
Chinese Studies
Classics
Cognitive Science
Comparative Literature*
Computer Science
Dance
Economics*
Educational Studies
Engineering
English Literature
Environmental Studies
Film & Media Studies
French & Francophone Studies
Gender & Sexuality Studies
German Studies
Global Studies
Greek
History
Interdisciplinary Programs
Interpretation Theory
Islamic Studies
Japanese
Japanese Language, Literature, and Culture
Latin
Latin American & Latino Studies
Linguistics
Mathematics
Medical Anthropology
Medieval Studies
Modern Languages & Literatures
Music
Neuroscience
Peace & Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science*
Psychology
Religion
Russian
Sociology*
Spanish
Statistics
Theater
Design Your Own Major
*only available as a major or Honors minor
Prominent Alumni
Eugene Lang '38
Philanthropist
Sandra Moore Faber '66
National Medal of Science Winner; Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Joesph Altuzarra '05
Fashion designer
Dawn Porer ?88
Filmmaker
John Mather '68
senior astrophysicist, NASA; 2006 Nobel Laureate
Jonathan Franzen '81
Award-winning author of Freedom and The Corrections
Antoinette Sayeh '79
Director of the African Department at the International Monetary Fund
06. Student Body
From The School
With more than 150 student clubs and organizations on campus, dozens of community service groups, 22 Division III varsity athletic teams, free lectures and performances occurring daily on campus, and full course loads, Swarthmore students actively engage in pursuits that matter to them.
Registered student club and organizations: 150+
Number of Honor Societies: 3
Number of Religious Organizations: 14
Athletic Division: Division III
Men's Sports (Garnet): 10 sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field Indoor
Track & Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Garnet): 12 sports
Badminton
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field Indoor
Track & Field Outdoor
Volleyball
What students say:
While some students say they are "not sure if there is a typical [Swarthmore student]," many agree that all "are really just smart students who care about the world and want to make it better." Students report that the campus "is very diverse racially..., pretty much everyone's liberal,... [and] multicultural and queer issues are big here." Another undergrad echoes the left-leaning and activist sentiments, saying that most here are "involved in some kind of activism group or multicultural group, talks about classes all the time, was labeled a nerd by people in high school, and is really smart." Above all else, there's one thing all enrollees have in common, which is that "each person here has at least one thing that [they do] extraordinarily well."
Gender
52% female48% male
Out of State
88% are out
of state12% are
in-state
of state12% are
in-state
Students
100% are
full time0% are
part time
full time0% are
part time
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,623
Foreign Countries Represented
53
Student Body Demographics
American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.50%
Asian
16.62%
Black
9.49%
Hispanic
15.50%
Caucasian
30.25%
Unknown
2.79%
International
13.39%
07. Mental Health
Wellness Program/Clinical Offerings
Institution has a mental health/wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and well-being services available to all students
Not Reported
Mental Health Website
Education & Training
Types of training available for students and faculty/staff
Program
Availability
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Available for faculty & staff;
Not Reported
Other:
Available for all students;
Available for faculty & staff;
Available for faculty & staff;
Other trainings description:
Red Folder - Recognize, Respond, Refer training (similar to QPR)
Engaging the Whole Campus
Institution has a Chief Behavioral Health Officer (and/or Chief Wellness Officer)
Not Reported
Peer-to-Peer
Institution has peer-to-peer offerings relating to mental health
Not Reported
Residential Life
Institution incorporates mental health and wellness into the residential experience
Yes
A brief description of offerings:
RA recieve training on recognizing and supporting people in distress and there are a wide range of workshops, tabling, and events geared toward overall mental health and wellbeing.
Student Orientation
Students who are provided an opportunity to participate in mental-health-orientation activities
First-year students
Services offered
Incoming transfer students
Not Reported
Returning students
Not Reported
Entering graduate students
Not Reported
Mental Health in the Curriculum
The institution offers for-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
well-being education for students
Not Reported
Details of for-credit offering:
There is a wellbeing class taught every Fall semester by the Health Educator.
The institution offers non-credit mental health/
well-being education for students
well-being education for students
Not Reported
Off-Campus Offerings
Institution offers referrals to off-campus counseling services
Yes
Health and Counseling Center Accreditation
Institution's counseling center is accredited
No
Accrediting body
Not Reported
Taking and Returning from Medical Leave
Institution has an official support program in place for students returning from mental health leave of absence
Yes
Counseling Demand
Number of months a year counseling center is open and fully staffed
10 months
08. Campus Life
Location
Swarthmore offers the best of both worlds. On our idyllic, 425-acre campus with world-renowned gardens and sprawling woods you'll find over 4,000 species of plants, heritage trees, a winding creek, hiking trails, and sun-soaked meadows. Yet, only 11 miles away lies the city of Philadelphia — accessible from campus by a quick, 25 minute train ride. In fact, all students are provided with a free transit pass to take in and out of the city and around the region. In the city, you'll find internship opportunities, vibrant cultural offerings, diverse cuisines, and world-class museums. From there, you can then easily catch a 90-minute train to New York City or a two-hour train to Washington D.C. And the best part? You'll have a peaceful, green oasis awaiting your return.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Swarthmore provides a dynamic collection of spaces to explore and develop your academic and extracurricular passions. These include an array of art spaces and professional theater facilities for students to enjoy visiting performers or stage their own productions. You can attend an art opening at the Kitao Student Gallery or take a workshop at the Gender and Sexuality Center.
The Hormel-Nguyen Intercultural Center provides programs and services that support the personal and intellectual development of Asian American, Latinx, multiracial, Native American, LGBTQ+, low-income, international, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The Black Cultural Center's goal is to support a thriving and inclusive Black campus community, and it serves as a space for a range of student-centered programming and activities.
The Matchbox fitness center and other athletic facilities like the Mullan Tennis Center and Costonis '92 Golf Center offer a multifaceted, modern approach to wellness, recreation, and community, along with our swimming facility and robust resources for our 22 Division III teams.
Regardless of your major, you can learn a new dialect through immersion in the Language Center, make sense of the universe in the Peter Van de Kamp Observatory, or connect your studies to your communities beyond campus through the Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility. Singer Hall, which brings together the Biology, Engineering, and Psychology departments, serves as a model of environmentally intelligent construction that will help the College achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035.
Whether students are teaming up to design a prototype in the state-of-the-art MakerSpace, sharing conversations in a cozy eight-person house or a lively 200-person residence hall, meeting up over locally grown food in our new Dining and Community Commons, or taking a study break in one of several campus coffee bars, the abundance of campus resources permeates all aspects of life at Swarthmore.
Underpinning our robust facilities is the College's ambitious energy plan, To Zero By Thirty-Five (20X35). This plan charts a transformative path to efficient, combustion-free energy on campus. By 2035, buildings across campus will be connected to a new heating and cooling geoexchange system. Powered by renewable energy, the process extracts heat from buildings during the summer and stores it underground for use in the winter — all while producing zero carbon emissions. Together with ongoing energy efficiency improvements across campus buildings, onsite solar and off-site renewable energy procurement, and a standby electricity generation plant, the College is positioned to significantly reduce our carbon emissions and reach carbon neutrality by 2035.
Off-Campus Opportunities
The Tri-College Consortium, which connects us with Bryn Mawr and Haverford colleges, allows you to expand your social and academic opportunities across three stellar institutions. The Tri-Co Philly Program offers further curricular and co-curricular activities in Philadelphia. Students also have the option to enroll in one elective per semester at the University of Pennsylvania. Students also benefit from Swarthmore's early acceptance programs with Thomas Jefferson University's Sidney Kimmel Medical College Scholars Program and the University of Rochester.
Swarthmore encourages students to spend a semester or year studying abroad to enhance their degree programs. With 300+ approved programs, you can choose either a College program coordinated by Swarthmore faculty members, a direct-enrollment program at a university abroad, or one of a broad array of other study-abroad programs. Students are billed for study abroad like a typical Swarthmore semester and all financial aid decisions travel with them.
Beyond study abroad, Swarthmore Career Services provides a host of opportunities including career mentorship, career advice and counseling, and programs like Swatworks, which connects students with alumni working in an array of professional settings. SwatWorks's Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. The program helps students to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as Swarthmore alumni and parents mentor them.
The Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility also creates opportunities around the globe, with engaged scholarship opportunities like internships with social justice organizations, research with faculty members, and projects with community partners. These beyond-the-classroom experiences can be a crucial bridge between your academic pursuits and the people and issues you care about.
The town of Swarthmore itself, known as "The Ville," offers a variety of local shops, restaurants, and gathering spaces immediately outside campus and can be accessed by foot or the College's free shuttle service.
What students say:
Around 95 percent of Swarthmore's students live on the school's beautiful arboretum campus and they appreciate its feeling of community. Students say they are "a family... who are engaged in academics, learning, politics, activism, and civic responsibility, with a work hard, play hard, intense mentality, who don't get enough sleep because they're too busy doing all they want to do in their time here." One student says of the small school's impressive array of extracurriculars: "There are so many organizations and clubs on campus that you'd be pressed to find none of the activities interesting" and another adds, "there is almost always something to do." In addition, there are "several parties every weekend," as well as "student musical performances, drama performances, movies, speakers, and comedy shows." Students shake their heads at the "misconception that Swarthmore students do nothing but study... while we certainly do a lot of it, we still find many ways to have fun."
75%
Students
94%
First-Year Students
100%
Campus Environment
Village
Help finding off-campus housing
No
Most Popular Places On Campus
Kohlberg & Eldridge Commons Coffee Bars
Parrish Beach (the central campus lawn)
Scott Outdoor Amphitheater
The Matchbox (wellness center)
Dining & Community Commons
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Philadelphia
Downtown Swarthmore
Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, UPenn
King of Prussia Mall
Media, Pa.
The Swarthmore campus is served by regional rail making travel to these and other destinations easy and convenient. Easy access to Philadelphia also allows for convenient travel to New York City and Washington, D.C. All Swarthmore students receive a free SEPTA Key Card that can be used anywhere on SEPTA?s network of subways, buses, trolleys, and regional rail lines during the fall and spring semesters ? September through December and February through May. During those months, the pass will be valid at all times and on all services provided by SEPTA, with a 240-ride limit per month (8 rides per day).
9. Campus Visits
Campus Visits Contact
Admissions Office 500 College Ave. Swarthmore, PA 19081
admissions@swarthmore.edu
610-328-8300
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
Mon-Fri year round; Sat in spring & fall
8:30am-4:30pm; 9am-noon
6103288300
Campus Tours
Appointment Required:
Yes
Dates:
Varies
Times:
Varies
Average Length:
1 hour
Visits
CLASS VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
FACULTY AND COACH VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly
Advance Notice
2 weeks
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews:
Yes
Information Sessions:
Available
Times:
varies
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Limitations
Available through special programs only; Discover Swarthmore and Swatlight
Campus Tours
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS
Philadelphia International Airport is approximately a 20-minute drive from campus. Ride share, Taxis, rental cars, or SEPTA commuter trains are available. Amtrak trains serve Philadelphia?s 30th St. Station, and from there visitors may take the SEPTA Media/Elwyn Line to the Swarthmore station on the edge of campus. Greyhound buses serve Philadelphia from many cities.
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10. Sports & Athletics
Athletic Division III
Participate in intercollegiate sports
26%
Men's Sports (Garnet)
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Garnet)
Basketball
Cross Country
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
11. Housing & Activities
Hosting Features
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Dorms Male
Other
Special Needs Admissions
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
150
Number of Honor Societies
3
Number of Social Sororities
0
Join a fraternity
0%
Join a sorority
0%
12. Student Services
Military
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: St. Joseph's University
Sustainability
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes
% food budget spent on local/organic food
1%
Green rating
94/99
Available Transportation Alternatives
Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus
School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
School Developed Bicycle Plan
CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit Â鶹ɫÇéƬ's page
on campus safety for additional resources:
Visit Page
Â鶹ɫÇéƬ publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education:
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Fee for Network Use
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Description Apple, Dell
13. Financial Aid
Dates
Application DeadlinesJan 4
Notification DateApr 1
Required Forms
FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Swarthmore's commitment to financial aid and access is at the core of our educational mission. We understand that students come to the College from a variety of economic backgrounds, and we strive to make it possible for all admitted students to attend Swarthmore, regardless of their ability to pay. We meet 100% of the determined need of all admitted students through loan-free aid decisions.
In 2023-24 52% of the student body received need-based Swarthmore scholarship aid from an overall financial aid budget of more than $56 million. Our financial aid offers consist of grants (which do not need to be repaid) and the expectation that students will work in a part-time college job. Although Swarthmore financial aid awards are loan-free, some families choose to borrow through a private loan to pay a portion of the educational expenses.
Swarthmore also practices "need-blind" admissions, which means the decisions about your admission to Swarthmore and your financial aid eligibility are made independently if you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented/DACA student graduating from a U.S. high school.
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$70,208
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$69,022
Average Need-Based Loan
$0
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
18%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$33,077
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based Aid
01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Pell
03 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
04 - Need-Based SEOG
05 - Need-Based State Scholarships
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
01 - Direct PLUS Loans
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):
01 - State Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Students Also View These Schools
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Bowdoin College
Brown University
Colgate University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Georgetown University
Harvard College
Haverford College
Middlebury College
New York University
Princeton University
Stanford University
Tufts University
Vassar College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University
14. Career Services & Jobs
What students say
Swarthmore’s Career Services does its part to help students reach their fullest potential by offering a variety of useful resources. Personalized career counseling advises undergrads on their options for major selection, internships, externships, and graduate school applications. A packed events calendar lets students network with alums, attend panel discussions, and impress potential employers at recruiting consortiums. The office maintains three separate internship databases for students and funds internships via its Summer Experiential Fellows program—40 percent of students complete an internship, and 50 percent participate in research projects. The college also offers SwatWorks, a program that matches students with alumni and parent volunteers to provide mentorship and access to short-term, funded micro-internships. Alums who visited PayScale.com reported a median starting salary of $77,100, and 49 percent think their work makes the world a better place.
Graduation Rates
Career Services
01 - Alumni Network
02 - Alumni Services
03 - Classes
04 - Interest Inventory
05 - Internships
06 - Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
01 - Experiential
02 - Internship
ROI & Outcomes Information from PayScale
Starting Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$79,700
Mid-Career Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$154,900
Starting Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$82,900
Mid-Career Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$159,900
Percent High Job Meaning
44%
Percent STEM
41%
15. Majors
01 AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
- African-American/Black Studies.
- Asian Studies/Civilization.
- German Studies.
- Latin American Studies.
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies.
- Women's Studies.
02 BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
- Biochemistry.
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other.
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
- Neuroscience.
03 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
- Computer and Information Sciences, General.
04 EDUCATION.
- Education, General.
- Education, Other.
05 ENGINEERING.
- Engineering, General.
06 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
- English Language and Literature, General.
07 FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
- Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature.
- Chinese Language and Literature.
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
- Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
- Comparative Literature.
- French Language and Literature.
- German Language and Literature.
- Japanese Language and Literature.
- Latin Language and Literature.
- Linguistics.
- Russian Language and Literature.
- Spanish Language and Literature.
08 HISTORY.
- History, General.
09 MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
- Mathematics, General.
10 MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
- Classical, Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology.
- Cognitive Science.
- International/Global Studies.
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
11 NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
- Environmental Studies.
12 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
- Islamic Studies.
- Philosophy.
- Religion/Religious Studies.
13 PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
- Astronomy.
- Astrophysics.
- Chemical Physics.
- Chemistry, General.
- Physics, General.
14 PSYCHOLOGY.
- Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology.
- Psychology, General.
- Psychology, Other.
15 SOCIAL SCIENCES.
- Economics, General.
- Medical Anthropology.
- Political Science and Government, General.
- Sociology and Anthropology.
16 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
- Dance, General.
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other.
- Fine/Studio Arts, General.
- Music, General.