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Swarthmore by the Numbers

students walking past Clothier Hall
Overview
FoundedFounded in 1864 as a coeducational college by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
CharacterPrivate, nonsectarian, liberal arts with engineering
MissionSwarthmore seeks to help its students realize their full intellectual and personal potential combined with a deep sense of ethical and social concern.
Campus425 acres, comprising the Scott Arboretum, featuring rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails
LocationSwarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia
MemberTri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, and cross-registration with the University of Pennsylvania 
The Academic Experience
Academic programsSwarthmore 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.
HonorsA 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 faculty173 full-time tenure and tenure-track faculty, 100% of full-time faculty have a terminal degree in their field
Student to faculty ratio8:1
Students who participate in undergraduate research or independent creative projects66%; 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.
Student Life
Student Life InformationTotals
Residence halls18
Students who live on campus95%
Students who volunteer~ 60%
Varsity sports teams22
Clubs and organizations150+
Libraries7
The Student Body
Enrollment

1,730

 

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 TypePercentage of Admitted Class of 2028
Independent25%
International13%
Parochial7%
Public and/or charter68%, inc. 4% rural
Home school1%
Affiliated with community-based organizations33%
Schools abroad13%
Geographic Distribution of Students
Geographic LocationPercentage of Total Student Body
International15%
Midwest7%
Middle Atlantic35%
Mountain States2%
New England7%
Southeast12%
Southwest5%
West15%
U.S. Territories<1%
Racial and Ethnic Identity of Students
Racial and Ethnic IdentityPercentage of Total Student Body
American Indian/Native Alaskan< 1%
Asian 18%
Black or African American9%
Hispanic15%
International students15%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander< 1%
Race and ethnicity unknown/unreported3%
Two or more races11%
White30%
Enrollment Information for Fall 2024 (as of July 2024)
Enrollment InformationTotals
Number of applicants13,065
Number of students admitted975
Number of students enrolled430
Tuition and Fees (2024-25)
Tuition and FeesCost
Tuition$65,058
Housing$10,478
Food$9,830
Student activity fee$436
Total$85,802

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 (2023-24)
Financial AidAmount
Students receiving need-based aid from the College52%
Range of financial aid awards$1,000 - $81,376
Average aid award (campus job and scholarship combined)$66,335
Outcomes
OutcomePercentage of Student Body
Students who plan to enter the workforce upon graduation68%^
Students who plan to enter graduate school within 5 years of graduation20.9%^
Student & graduate applicants who are admitted to medical school78%
Student & graduate applicants who are admitted to law school85%
Graduates who complete a doctoral program21.8% (3rd highest in the nation)
College Finances (For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022)
College FinanceAmount
Total operating expenses$220.9 million
 
Sources of revenue37% student fees
55% endowment
5% other
Market value of endowment$2.7 billion
Endowment per student8th 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.