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Swarthmore College

Private Nonprofit Bachelor's Strong 83/100

Swarthmore College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

About Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,613 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: swarthmore.edu

Acceptance: 7.5%
Graduation: 91.1%
Net Price: $23,149
Median Earnings (10yr): $80,257
Enrollment: 1,613
Student : Faculty: 8:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

83/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 96

Value 73

Affordability 26

Selectivity 98

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 7.5%, Swarthmore College is among the most selective colleges in the country.

Acceptance Rate

7.5%

Highly Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1490 – 1560

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

33 – 35

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Swarthmore College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↓ 2.0 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Swarthmore College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,149 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$23,149

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

19%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

11%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $65,494
Room & Board (on-campus): $20,308
Books & Supplies: $760
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,134
Total Cost of Attendance: $84,103

Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$7,690
$30,001 – $48,000

$4,951
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,444
$75,001 – $110,000

$22,443
Over $110,000

$47,544

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,000

10% percentile

$8,000

25% percentile

$17,500

Median percentile

$26,374

75% percentile

$27,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $9,650 ↓ $7,850

No Pell $14,906 ↓ $2,594

Female students $12,000 ↓ $5,500

Male students $14,000 ↓ $3,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,028, less than completers ($17,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

91% of full-time students who enrolled at Swarthmore College graduate within six years, and 96% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

91%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

96%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Swarthmore College earn a median of $80,257 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$80,257

Earning > $25K

85%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$58,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$83,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $25,200, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 5.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Swarthmore College is home to 1,613 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

1,613

Part-Time

First-Generation

27%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 30.3% 488

Asian 16.6% 268

Hispanic 15.5% 250

International 13.4% 216

Other 12.0% 193

Black 9.5% 153

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Swarthmore College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Housing

Strongly residential 1,574 beds for 1,613 students

Adult Learners

1% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Swarthmore College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 41 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)

4 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

1 Program

Mathematics

Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)

1 Program

Engineering

General Engineering $89K ($73K–$109K)

5 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)

4 Programs

Physical Sciences

Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)
Physics $77K ($52K–$103K)
Astronomy $68K ($44K–$99K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Swarthmore College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty

8:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$3.0B

Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability

Avg Faculty Salary

$130,653

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

244 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	76	31%	$173,828
Associate Professors	68	28%	$129,208
Assistant Professors	99	41%	$104,859
Instructors	1	0%	$93,673

Pros & Cons of Swarthmore College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Swarthmore College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution

Best for: Based on the data, Swarthmore College is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.

Frequently Asked Questions about Swarthmore College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Swarthmore College.

Is Swarthmore College hard to get into?

Yes. Swarthmore College is among the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 7.5%. Successful applicants typically have top-decile test scores and strong academic, extracurricular, and recommendation profiles.

What is the acceptance rate at Swarthmore College?

Swarthmore College has an acceptance rate of 7.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Swarthmore College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Swarthmore College scored between 1490 and 1560 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Swarthmore College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Swarthmore College scored between 33 and 35 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Swarthmore College cost?

The average net price after aid at Swarthmore College is $23,149 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Swarthmore College worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $80,257 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,149 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Swarthmore College known for?

Swarthmore College is best known for its programs in Economics, Information Systems, Mathematics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Swarthmore College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Swarthmore College are $80,257, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Swarthmore College accredited?

Yes. Swarthmore College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Swarthmore College?

Swarthmore College enrolls 1,613 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Swarthmore College?

Swarthmore College graduates 91% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Swarthmore College a public or private college?

Swarthmore College is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Swarthmore College located?

Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

What programs does Swarthmore College offer?

Swarthmore College offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Economics, Information Systems, Mathematics.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Swarthmore College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Swarthmore College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.