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Swarthmore College

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Swarthmore College campus
Swarthmore is a highly selective, private, coeducational, residential college with a liberal arts and engineering curriculum. Located just 11 miles outside Philadelphia, our 425-acre arboretum campus inspires students with gorgeous gardens, rolling lawns, and wooded hiking trails — while a train station at the foot of campus connects them to the vibrant cultural offerings of one of the country’s largest and most diverse cities. Since its founding by Quakers in 1864, Swarthmore College has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. Today, “Swatties” embrace the Quaker concept of collaboration instead of competition through a pass/fail first semester and without a published GPA or class rank. The range of perspectives, identities, and histories represented by Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff contribute to the community's strong sense of open dialogue and engagement with ideas and issues.
Accepts first-year applicationsMid-AtlanticPrivateSuburbanSmall (2,000 and under)Co-Ed
Virtual Tour

Academic programs

  • Engineering
  • Research
  • Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Music
  • Economics
  • Government/Political Science
  • Health Science
  • Performing Arts
  • Social Science
  • Visual Arts
  • Psychology
  • Computer Science

Student experience

  • Athletics
  • Co-op/Internship Opportunities
  • Disability Services
  • Intramural/Club Sports
  • LGBTQIA Services
  • On-Campus Housing
  • Study Abroad
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Veteran Fee Waiver

Application information

First-year

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. Swarthmore accepts self-reported or official standardized test scores. SAT or ACT scores are optional for students applying to Swarthmore in the 2025-2026 admissions cycle. We waive application fees for qualified students. To find out if you qualify for an application fee waiver, please complete SwatPass.

Transfer

Students may apply for transfer admission if they have completed the equivalent of two or more semesters of college or university-level coursework by the end of the current academic year. We make admissions decisions on a case-by-case basis for students who have completed less than the equivalent of two semesters of college or university-level coursework. We waive application fees for students attending a community or junior college, U.S. military personnel and veterans, Pell grant recipients, and others. To find out if you qualify for an application fee waiver, please complete SwatPass.

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Additional information

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. Fifty-two percent of Swarthmore students received need-based Swarthmore Scholarship aid in 2023-2024, with an average aid decision of $66,335. The College’s Quaker roots emphasize the concept of access regardless of income, and manifest themselves in a cash-free campus; the annual activities fee covers everything from digital printing and athletics events to movie screenings and dance performances. We deliberately seek to empower students who would thrive at Swarthmore, ensuring that they have what is needed to be successful here. 

Our dedication to affordability and access is rare among colleges and universities. Perhaps just as important, we deeply value the range of perspectives that this commitment brings to our campus community. That sense of purpose informs our admission and financial aid application processes, and how we support students all the way through their time at Swarthmore.

Visit us

Swarthmore’s campus will take your breath away with tens of thousands of plant species, making our grounds an actual arboretum. You’ll find students studying in the clusters of quaint stone buildings surrounded by rose gardens, in the sprawling lawns on adirondack chairs, or in sustainably-designed modern research facilities. Swarthmore’s appeal goes beyond our sublime exterior. Students attend small seminar classes with some of the most engaged and accomplished professors teaching today — and some of the most fascinating and curious students. One of the best ways to experience Swarthmore is to visit campus. If that’s not possible, we encourage students to explore our website and virtual tour experiences and contact their regional admissions dean to make connections with current Swatties and professors in their fields of interest.