Acceptance Rate
7%
Avg. SAT
1560
75th percentile
“Swarthmore: the fiercely intellectual Quaker enclave where you'll wrestle big ideas alongside hyper-driven peers in a leafy Philly suburb.”
Swarthmore, PA
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
You'll step into a legacy forged in 1864 by Hicksite Quakers who championed coeducation when most colleges barred women, creating one of America's earliest mixed-gender campuses amid Pennsylvania's rolling hills. Swarthmore's personality pulses with unapologetic intensity—think relentless curiosity fused with social justice fervor, drawing students who devour dense texts for breakfast and organize protests over lunch. The best-fit thrives here: self-starters who relish debate, embrace quirkiness, and prioritize ideas over Instagram. Those craving big-time sports scenes or vast elective menus might chafe at the tiny scale (just 1,700 undergrads) and workload grind. Nestled in quaint Swarthmore village, 11 miles from Philadelphia's buzz, you get suburban tranquility with SEPTA trains whisking you to cheesesteaks and museums, though the car-free bubble means planning trips ahead.
Photo Gallery
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Swarthmore's classrooms, expect seminar-style showdowns where your 8:1 student-faculty ratio translates to professors challenging your every assumption during twice-weekly honors proseminars—external examiners grill you at semester's end, Oxbridge-style. The engineering program stands out as the only ABET-accredited one at a liberal arts college, blending rigorous sciences with humanities, while linguistics, cognitive science, and peace studies draw brainiacs into interdisciplinary rabbit holes. Research hits early: you'll co-author papers as a sophomore. Tradeoffs bite, though—no massive lecture halls mean occasional course shortages, and the intellectual pressure cooker weeds out all but the most resilient.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,623 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
30%
Black / African American
9%
Hispanic / Latino
15%
Asian
18%
Other / Multi-racial
28%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Swarthmore, PA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week unfolds in a whirlwind of 8 a.m. problem sets, club meetings (pick from 150+ for your niche obsession, like vegan activism or medieval dance), and Crum Woods hikes to decompress in the 425-acre arboretum. Social life skips Greek parties for dorm bashes and the legendary Swarthmore Off-Campus Collective (SOC), hosting illicit raves in abandoned cloisters—edgy, but expect campus security drama. Traditions like the Last Collection (a grueling Crum trek to mark semester's end) bind the quirky tribe. Philly weekends offer urban escape, but back on the bubble, the vibe skews earnest-leftist: frequent protests, scant varsity rah-rah (despite D3 athletics), and Pennsylvania winters that chill outdoor hangs. Positives abound in tight-knit clusters—first-years bond in Wharton Hall—but introverts or party hunters face a high-IQ intensity that can feel cliquey.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Centennial Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$10,638
$30K – $48K
$11,885
$48K – $75K
$11,560
$75K – $110K
$20,167
$110K+
$46,875
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
94%
4 Years Graduation Rate
88%
6 Years Graduation Rate
94%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$80,257
94% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Swarthmore College and return in the fall. 88% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 94% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
88%
4-5 years
6%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
5%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$58,928
Acceptance
7%
Undergrads
1,623
4-Year Grad Rate
88%
Endowment
$1.8B
Swarthmore, PA 19081