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
198 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.
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 (2019-20)
Financial Aid
Amount
Students Receiving Need-Based Aid From the College
56%
Range of Financial Aid Awards
$1,000 - $55,074
Average Aid Award (campus job and scholarship combined)
$56,048
Outcomes
Outcome
Percentage of Student Body
Students who plan to enter the workforce upon graduation
74%
Students who plan to enter graduate school within 5 years of graduation
19%
Student & graduate applicants who are admitted to medical school
87%
Graduates who complete a doctoral program
22.5% (3rd highest in the nation)
College Finances (For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019)