Swarthmore offers more than 40 courses of study, and provides the opportunity for students to design their own major. More than 600 courses are offered on campus each year.
A cohort of students chooses to pursue their degree through the College's Honors Program, unique in the U.S., which emphasizes independent learning in small seminar classes and culminates with oral and written tests given by external examiners who are experts in their field.
Number of faculty
173 full-time tenure and tenure-track faculty, 100% of full-time faculty have a terminal degree in their field
66%; each summer the College commits more than $800,000 in grants to support this work. Opportunities are available in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering divisions, as well as for social action projects.
Swarthmore welcomes and affirms students from all races, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, citizenship statuses, and geographic locations. While we make admissions decisions without regard to race, our holistic admissions process considers individuals' lived experience, and our student body represents people from all walks of life. We are committed to building and sustaining a campus environment that is safe for all students, faculty, and staff members.
High School Distribution of Students
High School Type
Percentage* of Admitted Class of 2028
Independent
27%
Religious
9%
Public and/or charter
63%, inc. 6% rural
Home school
1%
Affiliated with community-based organizations (CBOs)*
27%
Schools abroad
13%
*Please note there is overlap in the data for CBOs and schools abroad with other high school types.
Geographic Distribution of Students
Geographic Location
Percentage of Total Student Body
International
14%
Midwest
7%
Middle Atlantic
37%
Mountain States
3%
New England
7%
Southeast
11%
Southwest
5%
West
14%
U.S. Territories
<1%
Racial and Ethnic Identity of Students
Racial and Ethnic Identity
Percentage of Total Student Body
American Indian/Native Alaskan
< 1%
Asian
17%
Black or African American
9%
Hispanic
15%
International students
15%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
< 1%
Race and ethnicity unknown/unreported
3%
Two or more races
11%
White
30%
Enrollment Information for Fall 2024 (as of July 2024)
Enrollment Information
Totals
Number of applicants
13,065
Number of students admitted
975
Number of students enrolled
430
Tuition and Fees (2025-26)
Tuition and Fees
Cost
Tuition & Books
$68,766
Housing
$11,076
Food
$10,390
Student activity fee
$460
Total
$90,692
Financial Aid
Admission and financial aid decisions for U.S. citizens and permanent residents are made independently at Swarthmore. Financial aid awards meet the determined need for admitted students, without loans.
Financial Aid (2024-25)
Financial Aid
Amount
Students receiving need-based aid from the College
54%
Range of financial aid awards
$1,000 - $85,802
Average aid award (campus job and scholarship combined)
$71,465
Outcomes
Outcome
Percentage of Student Body
Students who plan to enter the workforce upon graduation
68%^
Students who plan to enter graduate school within 5 years of graduation
20.9%^
Student & graduate applicants who are admitted to medical school
78%
Student & graduate applicants who are admitted to law school
85%
Graduates who complete a doctoral program
21.8% (3rd highest in the nation)
College Finances (For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022)
College Finance
Amount
Total operating expenses
$220.9 million
Sources of revenue
37% student fees 55% endowment 5% other
Market value of endowment
$2.7 billion
Endowment per student
8th in the U.S.°
^ Self-reported survey data from the Class of 2022
° 2022, National Center for Education Statistics
All numbers reflect information for the current academic year unless otherwise noted. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Research & Assessment is a source for further statistical information and survey data about Swarthmore College.
