Swarthmore College is a highly selective college of liberal arts and engineering located half an hour outside of Philadelphia, in a charming suburban slice of Pennsylvania. The college is founded on the value of striving towards the greater good, and empowers students to intertwine their academic curiosity with social responsibility and a sense of purpose.
Swarthmore's staff and faculty are fully behind this mission, from the world-class professors who engage directly with students in meaningful ways, to the staff in the dining hall, coffee bars, and libraries who can come to feel like friends. Close relationships with community members fuel life at Swarthmore. Many students collaborate with their professors on joint research projects, and the exchange of intellectual ideas between students and faculty is facilitated by small class sizes. The Honors Program extends the depth of free and critical discussion of ideas via small-group seminars.
One trademark of a "Swattie" is the desire to learn for the sake of knowledge, and the pursuit of interests inside and outside the classroom. Swatties can be astrophysicists who write poetry, economists who love to code and athletes with a passion for choreography. Almost half of the student body enjoys playing sports, whether it's at the competitive Division III level, or in more casual club and intramural sports teams.
Swarthmore's financial aid program ensures affordability--without loans. Almost 55 percent of the Class of 2022 received aid in 2018-19, with an average award of $54,967. Swarthmore makes admissions decisions for U.S. citizens and permanent residents without considering a family's ability to pay. International applicants are admitted on a need-aware basis, and are eligible for financial aid.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
500 College Ave.
Swarthmore, PA 19081
Experience College Life
Parrish Beach (the central campus lawn)
Scott Outdoor Amphitheater
The Matchbox (wellness center)
Paces (student-run cafe)
Downtown Swarthmore and nearby Media, Pa.
Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, UPenn
King of Prussia Mall
The Swarthmore campus is served by regional rail making travel to these and other destinations easy and convenient.
Campus Tours
8:30am-4:30pm; 9am-noon
6103288300
Dates: Varies
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
First-year applicants may apply to Swarthmore via Common Application, Coalition 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 Application, or Questbridge Application
- Swarthmore College Short Answer
- As part of the Common or Coalition Application, you will be asked to submit no more than 250 words in response to the following short answer question (Questbridge applicants are asked this question on our Questbridge Conversion Form): "Please write about why you are interested in applying to and attending Swarthmore."
- School report
- Guidance counselor recommendation
- High school transcript
- Midyear grades: If your school does not have midyear grades, please provide a midyear progress report from your teachers.
- Self-reported or official standardized test scores
- Two academic-subject teacher evaluations
Optional Materials
- You may request an on-campus or off-campus interview. You may interview before submitting your application.
- You may submit a creative supplement with art, music, dance, theater, or creative writing materials. We accept supplements exclusively through SlideRoom, which provides instructions for submitting materials online, including a video tutorial. Please use the SlideRoom link that matches your choice of application. Submitting additional materials is strictly optional, and is at no additional charge.
- Please review financial aid application instructions and deadlines for first-year applicants.
Overview
SAT & ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 15
Early Decision II — January 1
Regular — January 1
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Class Rank
Academic GPA
Application Essay
Recommendation(s)
Character / Personal Qualities
Selectivity Rating
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Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
The interdisciplinary nature of the college's curriculum allows unique opportunities for academic discovery. For example, Swarthmore offers a wide array of courses in distinct and intersecting disciplines, with courses such as Race, Gender, Class and Environment, which draws from multiple departments including Black Studies, Sociology/Anthropology, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Environmental Studies. Students have the chance to craft special majors, with recent examples including Medical Anthropology, Behavioral Economics, and Sustainable Development Studies. Swarthmore's program in Educational Studies leads to Pennsylvania secondary school certification. All students have significant undergraduate research opportunities in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering.
One hallmark of the college's academic program is that first-year students take their fall semester courses pass-fail. Swarthmore encourages students, many of whom spent their high school careers concerned about GPAs, to focus on learning for the sake of knowledge. The pass-fail semester provides a true sense of discovery for students, and empowers them to experiment with new fields. Many students identify potentially life-changing passions, while knowing that they're free to make academic mistakes in the process. Swarthmore recognizes the learning process that comes with adjusting to college, and how vital it is to achieve a balance between engaging in the campus community both inside and outside of the classroom.
Some Swatties decide to take a deep dive into their area of interest. Those students find their intellectual home in Swarthmore's Honors Program, which features small seminar classes where students work collaboratively with faculty to explore topics through spirited debate and thoughtful exploration of ideas. At the close of their senior year, Honors Program candidates are evaluated by visiting experts in their fields, such as Federal Reserve economists and directors of world-class theater companies. You know you've truly mastered a topic when it's time to discuss your ideas with brilliant strangers.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Swarthmore College awards two degrees, the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. The College offers the following courses of study:
Art and Art History
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Biology
Black Studies Chemistry and Biochemistry
Classics
Cognitive Science
Comparative Literature
Computer Science
Dance
Design Your Own Major
Economics
Educational Studies
Engineering
English Literature
Environmental Studies
Film and Media Studies
Gender and Sexuality Studies
Global Studies
History
Interpretation Theory
Islamic Studies
Latin American and Latino Studies
Linguistics
Mathematics and Statistics
Medieval Studies
Modern Languages and Literatures (including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish)
Music
Peace and Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religion
Sociology and Anthropology
Theater
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
African-American/Black Studies.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
Latin American Studies.
Near and Middle Eastern Studies.
Women's Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
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EDUCATION.
Education, Other.
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ENGINEERING.
Engineering, General.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
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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.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Islamic Studies.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Astronomy.
Astrophysics.
Chemical Physics.
Chemistry, General.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology.
Psychology, General.
Psychology, Other.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology and Anthropology.
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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.
Students Say
Degrees
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Experiential
Internship
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Students Say
Excerpt from Colleges That Create Futures
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
For 2018-2019, the College's billed charges, including tuition, room, board, and student activity fee, amount to $68,062. The activity fee covers not only the usual student services—health, library, laboratory fees, for example—but admission to all social, cultural, and athletic events on campus. In addition, the College's annual activity fee covers everything from digital printing and laundry to sporting events, campus movie screenings, and dance performances.
Financial Aid
Swarthmore's commitment to financial aid and access is at the core of our educational mission. We understand that students are admitted from a variety of economic backgrounds. The College strives to make it possible for all admitted students to attend Swarthmore, regardless of their ability to pay, and meets 100% of determined need for all admitted students. If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or undocumented/DACA student graduating from a U.S. high school, the decisions about your admission to Swarthmore and your financial aid eligibility are made independently.
Swarthmore awarded more than $45 million in need-based scholarship aid to nearly 55 percent of our students for the 2018-19 academic year. Our aid awards consist of grants (which do not need to be repaid) and the expectation that students will work in a part-time campus-based job. Although Swarthmore financial aid awards are loan-free, your family might choose to borrow a loan to pay a portion of the educational expenses.
Dates
Required Forms
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
State Aid
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
State Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
With more than 100 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 are in perpetual motion.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
The beauty of Swarthmore's 425-acre campus is immediately striking. Students draw inspiration from the meticulously-tended gardens, stunning arboretum specimen trees, and variety of woodsy trails. Each fall, The Graduate is screened on the lawn in front of Parrish Hall, allowing students to contemplate life beyond Swarthmore, and seniors to chant their class year with reckless abandon. With Philadelphia less than 30 minutes away, and New York City and Washington, D.C. within a 90-minute train ride, Swatties enjoy connecting to the wider world. The close-knit community allows each student to have access to the college's wide array of opportunities, such as the student who, partly on the strength of helping to build a database of Crum Woods ecological data, was offered a position at Google. The bottom line: Swarthmore's sense of place prepares you for anything and everything. Our alumni are equipped to pivot as needed in their careers—responding to dynamic industry changes as well as their own evolving goals.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Swarthmore provides a dynamic array of arts spaces for students to enjoy or stage a performance—including professional theater facilities. Students explore their interests across campus, by learning a new dialect through immersion with Language Center technology, making sense of the stars in the Peter Van de Kamp Observatory, and working on social equity projects through the Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility. The forthcoming biology, engineering, psychology building will feature cutting-edge labs and collaborative work spaces. The James Hormel-Michael Nguyen Intercultural Center at Sproul Hall brings the renovated and expanded Intercultural Center together with the Interfaith Center and the International Student Center, along with programs and services that support the personal and intellectual development of Asian American, LatinX, multiracial, Native American, LGBTQ+, low-income, and first-generation students. The Matchbox fitness facility offers a multifaceted, modern approach to wellness, recreation, and community. Whether students are snacking on a samosa while editing a project at the Media Center or chatting with friends about summer research over a meal at Sharples, the abundance of campus resources permeates life at Swarthmore.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Swarthmore belongs to the Tri-College consortium, which provides both academic and social links to nearby Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges. In addition, students can take courses at the University of Pennsylvania, a short train ride away. These extensions of the Swarthmore experience allow students to expand their intellectual and social capital, such as watching a play at Haverford, connecting with a Penn professor about an internship reference, or practicing with an a capella group at Bryn Mawr. The College offers shuttles to the other Tri-Co schools, community service sites, local restaurants and shops, and more. The train station on campus invites students to explore the rich cultural tapestry of center city Philadelphia.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Male
Other
Theme Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Student Activities
Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Womens Center
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: St. Joseph's University
Sustainability
Data provided by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS®, as of March, 2023.
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 The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review 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: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/