Swarthmore College Admits
967 Students to Class of 2014

Sixteen Percent Accepted from
Pool of 6,040 Applications

by Stacey Kutish
3/30/2010

Parrish Hall

Swarthmore College has sent letters of admission to 967 prospective members of the Class of 2014. Sixteen percent of the 6,040 students who applied were offered a position in the first year class. Based on previous admissions patterns, Swarthmore expects this group of admitted students to yield a first-year class of about 383 for next fall.

"Swarthmore continues to attract the most engaged and talented students from around the world, and the admitted class is one of the strongest ever," says Jim Bock '90, dean of admissions and financial aid. The 6,040 applications mark the second-highest number the College has ever received.

Of the admitted students attending high schools reporting class rank, 30 percent are valedictorians or salutatorians. Fifty-four percent are in the top two percent of their high school class, and 89 percent are in the top decile.

The admitted students come from six continents, 70 nations, and 47 U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. California is the most highly represented home state of members in the newly admitted class. Following, in order, are New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois, and Connecticut.

South Korea, with 12 students, is the most represented nation among international students in the admitted class. Seven each are from China and India. Five are from the United Kingdom. Three each are from Brazil and Vietnam. Two each are from Canada, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, Kenya, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. One each is from Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Several students hold dual citizenship.

Fifty-nine percent of the admitted students come from public high schools, 26 percent from private independent schools, eight percent from parochial schools, and eight percent from schools overseas. Thirteen percent of the admitted students are among the first generation in their family to attend college.

Engineering is the most popular intended major among the admitted students. Next, in order, are biology, political science, "undecided," economics, English, history, physics, peace studies, and mathematics.

Fifty-six percent of all accepted students identify themselves as domestic students of color. Asian Americans make up 21 percent of the admitted class; African Americans, 17 percent; Latino/a students 17 percent; and Native Americans make up one percent.