Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College Overview

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.

Is Swarthmore College a Good School?

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.

2022 Acceptance Rate for Swarthmore College

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 and Graduation Rates at Swarthmore College

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 Outlook Swarthmore College Graduates

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.

Swarthmore College's Endowment

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.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Swarthmore College

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.

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Where is Swarthmore College Located?

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.

Considering Going to School in Pennsylvania?

See a full list of colleges in Pennsylvania and save your favorites to your college list.