Swarthmore College is a private, nonprofit school in a suburban setting in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Swarthmore College was founded in 1864 and enrolls 1,651 undergrads and no graduate students. Swarthmore College ensures housing for students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing.
📆 Mark your calendar! January 4, 2023 is the final deadline to submit an application for the Fall 2023 semester. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should hear from Swarthmore College by April 1.
Student Activities at Swarthmore College
Interested in music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Swarthmore College's theater groups.
Interested in journalism or communications? Swarthmore College students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
Swarthmore College does not have any fraternities or sororities, do it might be a good option if Greek life isn't a priority for you.
Planning to play sports? Swarthmore College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Swarthmore College on the Student Life page.
2022 Swarthmore College Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 8% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | 24% |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA not offered |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 39% |
Tuition | $58,928 |
Percent of Need Met | 100% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $58,439 |
The definition of a "good school" can mean different things for different people. Admissions difficulty, admitted student statistics, tuition, and financial aid can provide a sense of how competitive a school is.
Let's take a closer look at these areas to get a better idea of what Swarthmore College offers and if the school could be the right college for you.
Around 8% of applicants get into Swarthmore College each year. Last year, 13,012 students applied to Swarthmore College and 1,013 were admitted.
Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It is a way to measure how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Approximately 95% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Swarthmore Collegereturn for their sophomore year. 94% of Swarthmore College undergrads graduate within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.
Job placement stats are a good resource for understanding the value of a degree from Swarthmore College by providing a look on how job placement has gone for other grads.
Check with Swarthmore College directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.
An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.
As of 2022, the total market value of Swarthmore College's endowment was $2.9 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $38,762 for each full-time student enrolled.
Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.
Swarthmore College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $58,439 a year.
In 2020, students graduated with an average of $22,356 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022
Some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Swarthmore College.
Based on this information, is Swarthmore College the school for you? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Swarthmore College a good school for you?
If Swarthmore College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.
Swarthmore College Community Forums
Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting accepted at some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.
Swarthmore College is located in the suburban setting of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, less than an hour from Philadelphia.
If you want to see Swarthmore College for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstates 476 and 95 to Swarthmore, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Philadelphia International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Swarthmore College and Swarthmore are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in Pennsylvania and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Swarthmore College is Jan 4.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Swarthmore College is Apr 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
More than an application, the Coalition provides free tools and resources to help students through the college admissions process, beginning as early as 9th grade.
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
35 and Above
33 to 35
33 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to Swarthmore College is 34. Students with an ACT score of 35 and above have a good chance of getting into Swarthmore College. Students with an ACT score that falls between 33 and 35 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 33 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1540 and Above
1440 to 1540
1440 and Less
The median SAT score for Swarthmore College students is 1489. Applicants with SAT scores of 1540 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Swarthmore College, while applicants with SAT scores between 1440 to 1540 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1440 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Swarthmore College.
Tuition & Fees
$78,114
In State$78,114
Out-of-StateWondering what life at Swarthmore College is like? There are approximately 1,651 students enrolled at Swarthmore College. 100% percent of students attend school full-time, 12% percent are from PA and 88% percent of students are from other states.
100%
Full Time0.12%
Part Time12%
In State88%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
Claim your page to customize your profile and connect with students!
Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!
Connect with the world's largest college forum for candid, authentic discussion.