Extremely selective
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
7.1% admitted · $18,978/yr after aid
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofit · Large suburb · Website
- Admission rate
- 7.5%
- Extremely selective
- Average net price
- $17,392
- per year, after aid
- Graduation rate
- 92%
- Median earnings
- $86,311
- 10 years after enrolling
Summary
Swarthmore College is a private nonprofit college in Swarthmore, PA with 1,613 undergraduates. It admits 7.5% of applicants, and admitted students average 1534 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $17,392 per year ($6,966 for families earning under $30,000). 92% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $86,311 ten years after enrolling.
private nonprofit college
Admissions
- Admission rate
- 7.5%
- Fall 2024
- Testing policy
- Test optional
- Fall 2024
- Applicants
- 14,287
- Fall 2023
- Admitted
- 992
- Fall 2023
- Yield
- 42%
- of admitted students enrolled
Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.
SAT Reading & Writing740–770
200800
SAT Math750–790
200800
ACT Composite33–35
136
What Swarthmore College looks at
As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).
- High school recordRequired
- High school GPAConsidered
- College-prep courseworkConsidered
- Class rankConsidered
- Essay or personal statementRequired
- RecommendationsRequired
- Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
- Legacy statusConsidered
- Work experienceConsidered
- English proficiency testConsidered
Cost
- Cost of attendance
- $88,696
- sticker price, per year
- Tuition & fees
- $69,226
Net price by family income
Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k$6,966
- $30–48k$7,978
- $48–75k$18,171
- $75–110k$14,741
- $110k+$50,329
Get a personal estimate with Swarthmore College's net price calculator
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 92%
- Freshman retention
- 94%
- Median earnings
- $86,311
- 10 yrs after enrolling
- Median debt
- $15,000
- at graduation
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,613
- Student–faculty ratio
- 7:1
- Receive Pell grants
- 24%
- White30%
- Hispanic16%
- Black10%
- Asian17%
Swarthmore College FAQ
What is Swarthmore College's acceptance rate?+
Swarthmore College admits 7.5% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.
What SAT score do you need for Swarthmore College?+
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 740–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 750–790 on SAT Math; the average total is 1534.
What ACT score do you need for Swarthmore College?+
The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 33–35.
Is Swarthmore College test optional?+
Test optional (considered if submitted).
How many students apply to Swarthmore College?+
In Fall 2023, 14,287 students applied to Swarthmore College and 992 were admitted; 415 enrolled.
Does Swarthmore College consider legacy status?+
Yes. Swarthmore College reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).
Does Swarthmore College require an essay?+
Swarthmore College reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).
How much does Swarthmore College cost?+
The sticker cost of attendance is $88,696 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,392.
What is Swarthmore College's graduation rate?+
92% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Sources
- Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
- Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
- IPEDS unit ID 216287 · How we use this data
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