Ranked among the top 5 National Liberal Arts Colleges of US, Swarthmore College welcomes students from all around the world. Swarthmore College is among the 50 most innovative schools of the US. Furthermore, the College is one of the 3 members of the Tri-College Consortium, which also includes Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College. Among the total student body of 1,600+ students at Swarthmore, almost 13% are international students. Programs at Swarthmore College are offered in more than 600 different study areas.
Admissions at Swarthmore College take place in the Fall and Winter semesters every year. It is a highly selective institute, with an acceptance rate of only 9%. The average cost of attendance at Swarthmore College is estimated to be about 70,744 USD. Almost 56% of the students at Swarthmore College receive need-based aid from the college, with the range of financial aid awards being 1,000 - 55,074 USD.
Swarthmore College is known for its top-level placements, and the highest salary observed at the college has been 175,000 USD. Around 19% of Swarthmore students go for graduate studies within 5 years of graduation and 22.5% of graduates complete a doctoral degree which is 3rd highest in the United States.
Also check Student Reviews of Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College Rankings
As per the U.S. News & World Report, Swarthmore College has attained the following positions:
- #2 in Best Value Schools
- #3 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
- #4 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #42 in Most Innovative Schools
- #135 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
- #35 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
- #54 in First-Year Experiences
Moreover, Swarthmore College has been ranked #29 in the US College Rankings by Times Higher Education
Swarthmore College Highlights
| University Type | Private |
| Campus Setting | Suburban |
| Campus Size | 425-acres |
| Academic Calendar | Semester-based |
| Acceptance Rate | 9% |
| Programs Offered | 600 |
| Total Enrollment | 1,600+ |
| International Students | 13% |
| Full-time Faculty | 198 |
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 |
| Financial Aid | Available |
| Admission HelpDesk | admissions@swarthmore.edu |
Swarthmore College Campus
Swarthmore College has a vast campus located along the north-south axis, in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The campus is equipped with a wide range of resources for students including student-led clubs, leadership opportunities, on-campus residence, dining facilities, 7 libraries, and a post office facility.
- There are more than 100 student clubs and organizations within the campus. These include anime club, archery club, drama board, racing club etc.
- The Art Studios consist of The Beardsley Hall and The Old Tarble, which provides a dedicated studio space to students. The Old Tarble is also the site of Art Department classrooms and studios, such as the printmaking studio and a photography studio.
- The 3 theatre studios at the campus enhance the learning experience of the students enrolled in the theatre program. Additionally, the Boyer Dance Studio and the Troy Dance Lab provide high-quality space for rehearsals of students.
- The artworks of students at Swarthmore College are regularly exhibited at the “List Gallery” and the “Kitao Student Art Gallery”.
- The Underhill Music & Dance Library at the Swarthmore campus contains approximately 40,000 items that include books, scores, journals, sound recordings, and video recordings.
Swarthmore College Accommodation
Swarthmore College offers affordable accommodation options to students on-campus. It has a total of 17 residence halls that vary in size from a cozy eight-person house to a lively 200-person dorm. The students may choose from double sharing, triple sharing to single room options.
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- At Swarthmore College, around 95% of the students reside on-campus.
- Dining facilities are available for all the residents through the 4 dining halls operated by Swarthmore College.
- These are some of the major residence halls at the Swarthmore College:
- Alice Paul Hall: Accommodates around 75 students of all classes in single, double, and triple occupancy rooms.
- Dana Hall: Accommodates around 92 first-year and sophomores in double-occupancy rooms. The single rooms are generally offered to junior and senior students. The 3rd floor of Dana hall houses only female students.
- The Lodges: There are 4 lodges situated between Worth Residence Hall and Bond Memorial Hall. The lodges occupy 20 upper-class students. The first floor has triple and the 2nd floor has double occupancy rooms. Each building accommodates 5 students.
- PPR Apartments: It is a newly built suite-style apartment that consists of 3 cubic-shaped buildings. It accommodates a total of 125 students. Most of the apartments accommodate 5 to 6 junior or senior students. Each suite is equipped with a common living room, bathroom, and individual room.
Also check Off-campus housing in US
(Accommodation rates not available, that is why I used bullet points and included the above information only)
Swarthmore College Programs
Swarthmore College offers more than 600 courses across different study areas like science, mathematics, statistics, political studies, astronomy, dance and film & media studies.
- Swarthmore College offers undergraduate programs in more than 40 streams. Furthermore, the students are given the liberty to design their own major, according to what interests them most.
- The College's Honors Program is designed uniquely and emphasizes independent learning in small seminar classes. At the end of the programs, students have to give oral and written tests assigned by external examiners who are experts in their field.
- Swarthmore College offers an Engineering program with specializations in civil, computer, electrical, mechanical along with some additional coursework in biology, chemistry, and computer science.
- More than 300 study abroad programs are offered across 60 countries all over the world. The program lasts either a single semester or a complete academic year. Around 40% of the students participate in study abroad programs.
- Swarthmore College’s externship program is a hands-on, real-time program that provides the students opportunity to work and learn from the Swarthmore alumni that are successfully employed in different professional fields.
- Every year, 200 students with more than 300 alumni sponsors coordinate to gain valuable insights regarding the professional work culture.
- The Exchange programs offered by Swarthmore College provide the opportunity for students from other institutions (such as the Ashesi University College in Ghana, the University of Tokyo, Yale-National University of Singapore) to study at Swarthmore.
Swarthmore College Admission Process
International students must be well informed regarding the application process and requirements, and must apply by the prescribed deadline only. The students may apply for admission using any one of 3 application portals from the official website of Swarthmore college:
Application Portal: Apply via Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application
Application Fee: 60 USD
Application Deadlines:
| Application Type | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Fall Early Decision | November 15 |
| Winter Early Decision | January 4 |
| Regular Decision | January 4 |
| Transfer Decision | April 1 |
General Admissions Requirements:
- Completed online application
- Students applying through Common or Coalition Application are required to submit 250 words short answers
- The Applicants applying via QuestBridge Portal should submit a QuestBridge Conversion Form
- SAT/ACT scores(optional)
- High School Reports
- English Proficiency Test Scores
- Letter of recommendation
- A Sample of work in art, creative writing, dance, or music(optional)
- Interview (optional)
Swarthmore College Cost of Attendance
International students willing to study at Swarthmore College are advised to plan their finances in advance, including the cost of living in the US. The estimated cost of attendance for Swarthmore College is given below:
| Expenses | Cost (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 55,856 USD |
| Room | 8,796 USD |
| Board | 8,354 USD |
| Student Activity Fee | 200 USD |
| Total | 73,206 USD |
Swarthmore College Scholarships
Swarthmore College provides financial assistance to students in the form of scholarships, loans and grants. A total of 56,048 USD was awarded as scholarships and on-campus jobs to 56% of the students in the academic year. Important details regarding the scholarships are mentioned below:
- International students are required to submit a CSS profile while applying for admission at Swarthmore College.
- The prospective student will be asked to submit a signed ISFAA application before getting admitted into the College.
- Documents required for financial aid include:
- CSS profile
- International Student Financial Aid Application
- Attested 3rd party income
- Financial Aid Deadlines for Prospective Applicants:
- QuestBridge National College Match: November 1
- Fall Early Decision: November 15
- Winter Early Decision: January 4
- Regular Decision: January 4
Also check External scholarships to study in the US
Swarthmore College Alumni
Swarthmore College has produced numerous successful students over its rich history.
The Swarthmore Alumni Online Community offers several facilities to the alumni and helps them to remain connected with college even after completion of their course.
These are some of the benefits offered to the alumni:
- Career Counselling
- Access to job postings on the handshake portal
- Access to the library with a borrowing facility
- Fellowships, internship opportunities and scholarships for higher studies
Notable alumni:
- Elizabeth Anderson - Philosopher
- Michael Dukakis - Former Governor, Massachusetts
- Justin Hall - Journalist and Entrepreneur
- Christian B. Anfinsen - Biochemist and Nobel Prize holder in Chemistry
- Jonathan Franzen - Novelist
Swarthmore College Placements
Swarthmore College provides a variety of resources for the career development of students. The on-campus recruitment every year includes interviews, information sessions, career fairs, and events. The students can register for on-campus recruitment through the Handshake portal.
- The top Companies where Swarthmore Graduates are recruited include Google, Deloitte, The Boston Consulting Group, Amazon, J.P Morgan, and McKinsey.
- About 74% of graduates enter the workforce upon their graduation.
- Swarthmore graduates have an average base salary of 78,000 USD as per payscale.
Top Paid Jobs offered to Swarthmore College Graduates
| Job/Position | Average Salary(in USD) |
|---|---|
| Chief Operating Officer | 175,000 |
| Software Engineer | 99,980 |
| Director of Operations | 95,000 |
| Program Director | 66,000 |
| Research Associate | 52,500 |
| Account Manager | 52,402 |
| Marketing Director | 45,369 |
Check Employment opportunities in the US
Swarthmore College has been consistently providing the students with the best learning experience. The diversity of the programs, and the state-of-the-asrt facilities at the campus are the additional advantages at Swarthmore College. It works for the holistic development of the students and therefore, is one of the top universities in the US.
FAQs
Que. Is Swarthmore College worth taking admission into?
Ans. Swarthmore College is worth taking admission into, as it is one of the top-ranked private liberal arts Colleges in the United States. It is one of the top-50 colleges, one of the top-5 national liberal arts colleges, and top-5 colleges for undergraduate teaching in the United States.
Que. What are the programs offered at Swarthmore College?
Ans. The Swarthmore College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs with more than 600 undergraduate majors to choose from.
Que. What is the acceptance rate at Swarthmore College?
Ans. Swarthmore College is a highly selective institute, having an acceptance rate of 9%.
Que. What is the admission process for international students at Swarthmore College?
Ans. International students are required to submit their high school transcripts along with English proficiency proof, SAT/ACT scores, sample work, and recommendation letters. International students may apply for admission via Common application, coalition application, or via QuestBridge application.
Que. Does Swarthmore College offer financial aid?
Ans. Swarthmore College offers financial aid to 56% of the students in the form of scholarships, on-campus jobs, and grants.
Que. Is an accommodation facility available at Swarthmore College?
Ans. Swarthmore College offers accommodations in 18 residence halls which accommodates 95% of the students.
Que. What is the average tuition fee at Swarthmore College?
Ans. The college has an average tuition of 55,856 USD per year.
