150 Years of International Students
In 1875 – just 15 years after Swarthmore’s founding – Bernardo de Souza Frank Harrah, from Rio de Janeiro, enrolled as the college’s first international student. At that time, Swarthmore had a class size of 41, annual tuition of $350, and board members like Isaac H. Clothier, Daniel Underhill, and Henry C. Hallowell. You can read more about Harrah’s story on The 1875 magazine created by IEFI Fellow Michael Ugwe ‘25.
Fast forward to today: international students alone outnumber Harrah’s entire class. Since 2005, Swarthmore has welcomed students from more than 89 countries, with international students making up about 14% of the current student body.
2025-2026 commemorates the vibrant legacy that international students have brought and will continue to bring to Swarthmore.
[image of Harrah’s name appearing in College records]
