Swarthmore College — College Profile

About

Renowned for its intense intellectual rigor and commitment to social responsibility, Swarthmore College is a premier liberal arts institution celebrated for its strengths in the natural sciences, social sciences, and a rare ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering program. The college stands out for its distinctive Honors Program—featuring seminar-style learning that culminates in exams evaluated by external scholars—as well as cross-registration opportunities through the Tri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr and Haverford. Set entirely within the 425-acre Scott Arboretum, the campus culture is highly collaborative, inquisitive, and socially engaged, shaped by a Quaker heritage that values open dialogue and intellectual depth.

Wikipedia:Swarthmore College is a private liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the earliest coeducational colleges in the United States. It was established as a college under the Religious Society of Friends. By 1906, Swarthmore had dropped its religious affiliation and officially became non-sectarian.

Location

Swarthmore, PA, 19081 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

PHL · Philadelphia

6 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$65,494

Housing & food (on campus)$20,308

Books & supplies$760

Cost of attendance$98,370

Average net price$23,149

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$65,494

Housing & food (on campus)$20,308

Books & supplies$760

Cost of attendance$98,370

Average net price$23,149

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.swarthmore.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

Swarthmore College’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$72,722

Fees$482

Housing$11,676

Food$10,890

Books & supplies$825

Personal expenses$1,775

Total published by the school$98,370

Source: www.swarthmore.edu · checked Sep 28, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$7,690

$30–48k

$4,951

$48–75k

$11,444

$75–110k

$22,443

$110k+

$47,544

Your family's actual price → Swarthmore College net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

93%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

76%

Back for yr 2

94%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

95% graduated · 4% transferred · 1% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$56,211

10 yrs after entry$80,257

Debt

Median at graduation$17,500

Monthly payment$186

Middle 50% owe$8k–$26.4k

90th percentile$27,000

Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — arts & sciences: 69% graduate within 6 yrs, $58,391 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

Test policy

Test optional

Checked Sep 2026

SAT average

1534

R 740–770 · M 750–790

ACT midpoint

Comp 33–35 · E 35–36 · M 31–35

SAT middle 50%: 1490–1560

40080012001600

Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry

Early Decision

Nov 15 2026

binding in 44 days

If admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications.

Regular Decision

Jan 4 2027

in 94 days

Not binding: the standard deadline.

Checked Sep 2026 · swarthmore.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

Wondering if Swarthmore College is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list

Financial aid & net cost estimates

Deep dives on any school

Scholarship search

Get your college list →See a sample college plan first

Essay prompts

How much essays count at Swarthmore College: Very important (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Swarthmore College's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Swarthmore College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 48%Women 52%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

7 : 1

Pell grant

19%

First-gen

27%

Family income

$48,016

Age at entry

19.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

30%

Hispanic

16%

Black

Asian

17%

Two or more

11%

Non-resident

13%

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III without football · EADA 2024-25

Badminton
Women's
Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Field Hockey
Women's
Golf
Men's
Lacrosse
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$56,211

After 10 yrs

$80,257

Economics76

Computer and Information Sciences, General73

Mathematics49

Political Science and Government37

Engineering, General33

Research and Experimental Psychology29

Biology, General20

Neurobiology and Neurosciences18

English Language and Literature, General17

Sociology and Anthropology16

Fine and Studio Arts16

Natural Resources Conservation and Research15

Education, General14

Education, Other12

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology11

Philosophy10

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$2.7B

Full-time faculty

94%

Faculty salary

$14,961/mo

Teaching spend

$46,961

per student

Federal loans

11%

Classification

Carnegie type

Baccalaureate — arts & sciences

Research activity

Research college or university

$6M research spending

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, more selective admissions