College Access Summit at Swarthmore

The College Access Summit brings together college access professionals from high schools, community-based organizations, and colleges in the mid-Atlantic region to engage in meaningful dialogue about issues and challenges facing students who are first in their families to attend college, students who come from low-income backgrounds, or students who have experienced opportunity gaps or barriers. Colleagues discuss admission and enrollment, financial aid, transitions, and student support for first-generation college and low-income students. In 2025, the College Access Summit at Swarthmore will be held on Wednesday, June 18th from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2025 session topics

The College Access Summit features presenters from public and charter schools, private and public colleges, local organizations, and nationally known community-based organizations. Our 2025 sessions are listed below:

  • Navigating Barriers and Working Together: Financial Aid for Students
  • The Empowered Student and Counselor: Advocacy from the College Essay to the School Profile
  • Transfer 101: An Inside Look at How Community Colleges and Four-Year Institutions Support Transfer Students
  • Partners in Access: Collaboration Strategies Between Community-Based Organizations and Admissions Offices

Past attendees

Past College Access Summit attendees included admissions and financial aid representatives from the following institutions:

  • Bryn Mawr College
  • Community College of Philadelphia
  • Delaware County Community College
  • East Stroudsburg University
  • Franklin & Marshall College
  • Haverford College
  • Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
  • Lafayette College
  • Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
  • Lycoming College
  • Millersville University
  • Princeton University
  • Rutgers University
  • University of Delaware
  • University of Pennsylvania

If you are interested in attending (or know a colleague who is interested), please contact us. At this time, the College Access Summit is limited to high school counselors, community-based organization advisors, and college representatives in the mid-Atlantic region. To learn more about what Swarthmore is doing to reduce barriers in the admissions process and support students who are first in their families to attend college, students who come from low-income backgrounds, or students who have experienced opportunity gaps or barriers, download the Swarthmore Aid & Access Guide for Counselors,  Advisors, and Community-Based Organizations [PDF]. 

Learn more about the College Access Summit at Swarthmore.