Overview
Founded in 1864, Swarthmore College is a private institution with a suburban setting and a sprawling 425-acre campus. As of fall 2023, it has an undergraduate enrollment of 1,644 students and follows a semester-based academic calendar. In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, Swarthmore ranks #3 among National Liberal Arts Colleges. The tuition and fees for the academic year are $65,494.
Swarthmore College Rankings
To get a better sense of what Swarthmore offers, here’s how it stacks up in various categories:
- #3 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
- #5 in Best Value Schools
- #30 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (tie)
- #30 in Economics (tie)
- #4 in Writing in the Disciplines
- #20 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
- #5 in Senior Capstone (tie)
- #4 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
- #38 in Most Innovative Schools (tie)
- #25 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)
Swarthmore College Admissions
Swarthmore has a highly selective acceptance rate of just 7%. For admitted students who submitted test scores, half scored between 1460 and 1560 on the SAT or between 33 and 34 on the ACT. That said, 25% of admitted applicants scored above these ranges, while another 25% scored below. The application deadline is January 4.
Admissions officers place a lot of weight on a student’s GPA, high school class rank (if available), and letters of recommendation. For more details on academic factors and other data, you can explore College Compass.
Swarthmore College Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition at Swarthmore is **65,494∗∗,whichishigherthanthenationalaverageof65,494∗∗,whichishigherthanthenationalaverageof51,147. This “sticker price” includes fees that cover services like the library, gym, student centers, tech resources, and health centers.
When comparing costs, it’s important to look beyond tuition. The total cost—including housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses—comes to 83,676∗∗.However,afterfinancialaidandscholarships,the∗∗averagenetprice∗∗dropsto∗∗83,676∗∗.However,afterfinancialaidandscholarships,the∗∗averagenetprice∗∗dropsto∗∗19,344 for students receiving need-based aid.
Tuition & Expenses (2024-25)
- Tuition and fees: $65,494
- Net price for federal loan recipients (2021-2022): $21,595
Net Price by Family Income (2021-2022)
| Family Income | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 0–0–30,000 | $5,341 |
| 30,001–30,001–48,000 | $8,634 |
| 48,001–48,001–75,000 | $13,009 |
| 75,001–75,001–110,000 | $18,389 |
| $110,001+ | $50,474 |
- Food and housing: $20,308
Swarthmore College Academics
With an impressive 8:1 student-faculty ratio, Swarthmore ensures personalized attention—71.6% of classes have fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors include:
- Social Sciences
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Engineering
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Psychology
- Education
- Physical Sciences
- Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
The freshman retention rate, a key indicator of student satisfaction, is 94%.
Top Majors for 2023 Graduates
- Social Sciences (24%)
- Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences (9%)
- Mathematics and Statistics (9%)
- Engineering (6%)
Swarthmore College Student Life
As of fall 2023, Swarthmore has 1,644 undergraduate students, with a nearly even gender split: 48.4% male and 51.6% female. The vast majority (95%) live on campus in college-owned or affiliated housing, while 5% live off-campus. In athletics, Swarthmore competes in NCAA Division III.
Swarthmore College Campus
The college provides a range of student services, including:
- Tutoring (non-developmental)
- Women’s center
- Career placement assistance
- Health services and insurance
Campus safety is a priority, with services like:
- 24/7 foot and vehicle patrols
- Late-night transport/escort service
- Emergency phones across campus
- Well-lit pathways and sidewalks
- Secure dorm access (key or security card)
For students of legal drinking age, alcohol is permitted on campus.