Established in 1864, Swarthmore College is a privately owned undergraduate liberal arts college with a total annual enrollment of roughly 1,500 students. It is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania about 10 miles from Philadelphia. The college was founded by Quakers who supported the abolitionist and women’s rights movements in the late 19th century. Swarthmore was also one of the first coeducational institutions in the country. Up until the 1930s, Swarthmore had a strong religious affiliation, but today, the college is non-sectarian.
If you’re looking for a top-notch and challenging liberal arts education, Swarthmore College may be just the school for you. It’s known for its well-rounded, focused curriculum that covers over 40 academic disciplines. Swarthmore emphasizes a unique style of discussion-based learning and strives to maintain small class sizes, whereby ensuring that each student receives the personalized attention they need to be successful. In fact, Swarthmore has a ratio of 1 faculty member for every 8 students. How many colleges can claim that? Swarthmore is also known for its commitment to excellence in academic achievement. Over 90% of the college’s students go on to attend graduate school and more than 20% will eventually earn a Ph.D. Some of the other colleges in the nation that have as high a number of their undergraduate students obtaining Ph.D.s include Harvey Mudd College, Cal Tech and Reed College.
Swarthmore has a lot more to offer than an exceptional academic program. Student life at Swarthmore is diverse and stimulating. The school features an array of year-round student events, activities, organizations and athletic programs. You’ll rarely run out of something fun to do at Swarthmore.
Swarthmore’s admissions team is very selective and they only admit the most qualified students. If you want to get into Swarthmore: do your best to get good grades; participate in extracurricular and leadership activities in high school; perform well on the ACT and/or SAT exams; and schedule an interview for Swarthmore’s early decision application as soon as possible. The early decision application deadline for fall term is November 15 (January 1 for regular decision).
Swarthmore is one of the private, liberal arts colleges that belong to the Tri-College Consortium. The other two member colleges are Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College. Through the consortium Swarthmore students can also take classes at either Haverford or Bryn Mawr. The consortium provides students with the resources of a large university without sacrificing the benefits of a small college (e.g., flexibility, personal attention, etc.).
Academics
Swarthmore offers students the opportunity to participate in a unique Honors Program based on the Oxbridge tutorial system, a rigorous and academically challenging teaching and learning system where students present their work and analysis in small groups directly to their professors and other students. During their junior and senior years, Honors students are able to take a series of seminars that provide them double credit. During each seminar students are required to perform topic-related research and analysis, and prepare up to two 10-page papers and one 30-page paper. Honors students may also be required to take several written and oral exams. Honors students can graduate with the designation of “Highest Honor” (reserved for the top student in each discipline), “High Honors” or “Honors”. Certain prerequisites (including an acceptable GPA) must be met in order to be admitted into the Honors Program.
Swarthmore is somewhat unique among undergraduate liberal arts colleges in that it offers a highly reputable engineering program. Engineering students at Swarthmore who successfully complete the 4-year program are awarded a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Engineering. A few other unique programs at Swarthmore include Interpretation Theory (a.k.a. Critical Theory), Peace and Conflict Studies, and Cognitive Science.
On average, total annual enrollment at Swarthmore is approximately 1,500 students. The college has around 160 full-time faculty members, nearly all of which have a Ph.D., doctorate or terminal degree in their field of study. Notwithstanding its relatively small size, Swarthmore offers a comprehensive selection of bachelor’s degrees in over 50 fields of study. Most of Swarthmore’s students go on to earn graduate degrees or professional degrees. Swarthmore is known for its rigorous academic program which has been ranked with the likes of Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford and Yale.
Reputation and Rankings
Swarthmore College is consistently ranked among the top ten undergraduate colleges in the United States–and with good reason. Swarthmore produces some of the finest graduates of any college in the nation. Over the last four decades Swarthmore has produced 151 Fulbright Scholars, 30 Rhodes Scholars, 22 Truman Scholars, 8 Marshall Scholars, 13 Luce Scholars, 66 Watson Fellows, 3 Soros Fellows, 19 Goldwater Scholars, 84 Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows, 230 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellows, 13 National Endowment for the Humanities Grants for Younger Scholars, 35 Woodrow Wilson Fellows, and 2 Mitchell Scholars–an impressive record by any standard.
In 2012, Swarthmore College was ranked the No.3 liberal arts college in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, surpassed only by Amherst College and Williams College. Since the founding of U.S. News college rankings, Swarthmore is one of only three colleges nationwide that has repeated been ranked the No.1 liberal arts college in the United States. In its history, Swarthmore has been ranked the No.1 liberal arts college in the nation six times.
Other reputable industry publications, including Forbes Magazine, Businessweek, Wallstreet Journal, Princeton Review and Foreign Policy Magazine have repeatedly ranked Swarthmore among the top higher education institutions in the world.
Admissions
Swarthmore is a highly selective college. In any given year, Swarthmore will only accept between 10-15% of applicants. For the Class of 2016, nearly a third of entering freshmen were their high school’s valedictorian, over half were in the top 2% of their graduating class, and almost all were within the top 10% of their high school graduating class. The average ACT score of entering freshmen range from 30 to 33 and SAT scores range from 670-760, 670-770, and 680-770 for critical reading, mathematics, and writing, respectively. Not only is Swarthmore highly selective, but competition to get accepted is intense.
General Information
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Admission Office 500 College Avenue Swarthmore, PA 19081 (610) 328-8300 (800) 667-3110 Fax: (610) 328-8580 [email protected] Contact: James Bock Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid |
Main Address 500 College Avenue Swarthmore, PA 19081 (610) 328-8000 |
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Size Total undergrads: 1,490 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 372 Degree-seeking undergrads: 1,477 Setting | Degrees offered: Bachelor’s |
Tuition & Fees
| Estimated Annual Expenses | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
| Tuition and fees | $34,884 | $36,490 | $37,860 | $39,600 | +4.60% |
| Books and Supplies | $1,080 | $1,110 | $1,150 | $1,150 | 0.00% |
| Living Arrangement – On Campus | |||||
| Room and Board | $10,816 | $11,314 | $11,740 | $11,900 | +1.36% |
| Other | $1,435 | $1,467 | $1,515 | $1,503 | -0.79% |
| Living Arrangement – Off Campus | |||||
| Room and Board | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Other | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Total Expenses | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
| In-state On Campus | $48,215 | $50,381 | $52,265 | $54,153 | +3.61% |
| In-state Off Campus | $35,964 | $37,600 | $39,010 | $40,750 | +4.46% |
| In-state with Family | $35,964 | $37,600 | $39,010 | $40,750 | +4.46% |
Financial Aid
| Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students | ||||
| Type of Aid | Students | Percent | Amount | Average Per Student |
| All students financial aid 1 | 234 | 63% | ||
| Grant or scholarship aid | 188 | 51% | $5,822,936 | $30,973 |
| • Federal grants | 50 | 13% | $234,690 | $4,694 |
| • Pell grants | 39 | 10% | $137,678 | $3,530 |
| • Other federal grants | 44 | 12% | $97,012 | $2,205 |
| State/local government grant or scholarships | 15 | 4% | $34,760 | $2,317 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 182 | 49% | $5,553,486 | $30,514 |
| Student loan aid | 73 | 20% | $537,678 | $7,365 |
| • Federal student loans | 69 | 19% | $340,878 | $4,940 |
| • Other student loans | 7 | 2% | $196,800 | $28,114 |
All Degrees and Programs
| BA/BS | MA/MS | PhD | AA/AS | CERT | |
| Total of All Education Programs | 408 | – | – | – | – |
| Area, Gender, Cultural, Ethnic, and Group Studies | 16 | – | – | – | – |
| African-American/Black Studies | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Area Studies, Other | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| French Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| German Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| Latin American Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| Russian Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| Women’s Studies | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| Biology and Biomedical Sciences | 50 | – | – | – | – |
| Biochemistry | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Biology and Biological Sciences, General | 48 | – | – | – | – |
| Biometry/Biometrics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Biophysics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Computing and Information Sciences | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| Education | 24 | – | – | – | – |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Education, Other | 24 | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering | 17 | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering | 17 | – | – | – | – |
| English Language, Composition and Literature/Letters | 27 | – | – | – | – |
| English Language and Literature | 26 | – | – | – | – |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 35 | – | – | – | – |
| Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chinese Language and Literature | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Comparative Literature | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| French Language and Literature | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| German Language and Literature | – | – | – | – | – |
| Japanese Language and Literature | – | – | – | – | – |
| Latin Language and Literature | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Linguistics | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Russian Language and Literature | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Spanish Language and Literature | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| History | 19 | – | – | – | – |
| History | 19 | – | – | – | – |
| History, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Human Services | – | – | – | – | – |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Public Policy Analysis | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mathematics and Statistics | 18 | – | – | – | – |
| Applied Mathematics, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mathematics | 18 | – | – | – | – |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | – | – | – | – | – |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | – | – | – | – | – |
| Natural Resources and Conservation | – | – | – | – | – |
| Environmental Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| Physical Sciences | 19 | – | – | – | – |
| Astronomy | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Astrophysics | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Chemical Physics | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Chemistry | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Geology and Earth Science | – | – | – | – | – |
| Physical Sciences, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Physics | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| Psychology | 35 | – | – | – | – |
| Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology | – | – | – | – | – |
| Psychology | 31 | – | – | – | – |
| Psychology, Other | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Social Sciences | 106 | – | – | – | – |
| Economics | 48 | – | – | – | – |
| International Relations and Affairs | – | – | – | – | – |
| Political Science and Government | 40 | – | – | – | – |
| Political Science and Government, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
| Social Sciences, Other | 18 | – | – | – | – |
| Sociology | – | – | – | – | – |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 30 | – | – | – | – |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Dance | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theater Arts | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| Film/Cinema/Video Studies | – | – | – | – | – |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| Fine/Studio Arts | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Music | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Musicology and Ethnomusicology | – | – | – | – | – |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | – | – | – | – | – |
Admissions Information
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Application Fee College has an application fee: Yes Regular application fee: $60 Online application fee: $60 |
Enrollment Rates Percent applicants admitted: 16% Percent students who return for sophomore year: 96% |
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Admissions Considerations Secondary school record: Required Recommendations: Required Admission test scores (SAT/ACT): Required TOEFL: Recommended Undergraduate Admissions Fall 2011 |
Test Scores: Fall 2011 SAT Critical Reading
SAT Math
SAT Writing
ACT Composite
ACT English
ACT Math
ACT Writing
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Enrollment Statistics
Undergraduate Attendance Status |
Undergraduate Student Gender |
Undergraduate Student Age |
Undergraduate Student Residence |
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Retention and Graduation Rates
Retention Rates for First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees |
Overall Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates for Students |
Graduation Rates for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
Undergraduate Majors
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, & Gender Studies Asian Studies B Arts, Visual & Performing Art History/Criticism/Conservation B Biological & Biomedical Sciences Biochemistry B Computer & Information Sciences Computer/Information Sciences – General B Education Education – General B Engineering Engineering – General B English Language & Literature English Language & Literature – General B Foreign Language & Literature Chinese B History History – General B Mathematics Mathematics – General B Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Medieval/Renaissance Studies B Philosophy & Religion Philosophy B Physical Sciences Astronomy B Psychology Psychobiology/Physiological Psychology B Social Sciences Anthropology B |
Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters:
B = Bachelor’s degree C = Certificate or diploma |
*We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.