Swarthmore College
Swat
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
Among the most selective in the Northeast — top graduate earnings
Swarthmore College is a private institution in Swarthmore with particular strength in computer science and biology. With an average SAT of 1527, the school attracts a competitive applicant pool.
A small campus of 1.6K undergraduates with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.
94% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $80,257 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,686.
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More About This School
Varsity Sports
History & Fun Facts
- •Swarthmore was used for the first meetings of what became known as the Religious Society of Friends (later colloquially labeled "The Quakers").
- •It is the only college founded by the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends: previous Quaker institutions, like nearby Haverford College, were Orthodox in their founding history.
- •Swarthmore held its first classes in 1869 and Edward Parrish (1822–1872) was the first president.
- •Lucretia Mott (1793–1880) and Martha Ellicott Tyson (1795–1873) were among those Friends who insisted that the new college of Swarthmore be coeducational.
- •His daughter, Helen Magill, (1853–1944), was in the first class to graduate in 1873; in 1877, she was the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.
Source: Wikipedia
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Admissions
SAT Score Ranges
Average: 1527
ACT Score Range
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Deadline Calendar
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.
Debt & Aid Detail
Net Price Trend
Tuition Trend
Graduate w/ Zero Debt
90.0%
Avg Tuition Increase
4.4%/yr
Median Debt at Grad
$13,000
Programs (66)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
97%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
Campus Safety
Total Incidents (2024)
11
Peer Average
13
3-Year Trend
Emergency System
Campus security, emergency notification system
Incident Breakdown (2024)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from PA state average + suburban adjustment
Climate (School Year)
Nearest Cities
Getting There
Nearest Airports
Distance to Cities
Visit Planning
Nearby Hotels
Plan Your Visit
Days out near Swarthmore
NewTwo or three colleges you can see in one day around Holmes, from real bookable tour times.
- DeSales University · Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPublic and private17 days
- Bryn Athyn College of the New Church · Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaVery small colleges13 days