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Admissions & Aid

Department Overview

Swarthmore College is where intellectually passionate students think and create together for the betterment of their communities and the world.

We collaborate, rather than compete. We dive deep and then put our ideas to work. 

We believe in the power of place, knowing that students will thrive in our gorgeous arboretum campus but also appreciate the easy access to downtown Philadelphia, with a train station right at the edge of campus.

We embrace the knowledge that living in a community of people with diverse backgrounds challenges our assumptions and helps us become who we want to be. 

Until now, your education might have been a wonderful appetizer. Welcome to Swarthmore: an endless intellectual buffet, where curiosity and collaboration help create leaders for the common good. 

Academic Exploration

It's hard to feel motivated in a vacuum. That's why the quality of the people around you matters so much. Our community of thinkers and doers—of problem finders and problem solvers—gets inside your head. Everyone at Swarthmore is on an intellectual journey. After four years as a Swattie, you'll have what it takes to apply your knowledge with meaning and purpose. 

students talking

Location: Best of Both Worlds

Want to relax? Your options are almost endless. Take a nap on the sun-drenched lawn of Parrish Beach or clear your head with a trail run through the woods. Hop the train into Philadelphia to chat with friends over bubble tea in Chinatown, or see your favorite band play at Franklin Music Hall. Swarthmore’s campus is anything but an afterthought. Instead, it is a physical place that ultimately helps define your inner landscape. 

aerial view of swarthmore campus

Meaningful Opportunities

Self-discovery: At Swarthmore, it’s communal. As paradoxical as that may sound, it’s true in more ways than one. Swatties sharpen their personal vision in collaboration with friends, professors, coaches, and mentors. Swarthmore offers you a wealth of opportunities to find your place in the world and become the person you want to be.

teaching at the outdoor classroom

Quaker Roots

While Swarthmore is no longer a religious institution, our Quaker founders believed in the practical application of knowledge for the common good. Your classmates work to initiate positive change in fields as diverse as business, medicine, government, education, and more. Swatties strive to make the most of their opportunities and abilities to benefit the world around them, just as they did more than 150 years ago. 

students at first collection