Swarthmore College has sent letters of admission to 930 prospective members of the Class of 2018. Seventeen percent of the 5,540 students who applied were offered a position in the first year class. Based on previous admissions patterns, Swarthmore expects this group of admitted students to yield a first-year class of about 405 for next fall.

"We are excited each year to welcome highly qualified, intellectually adventurous, socially conscious students to Swarthmore's vibrant community of engaged scholars," says Jim Bock '90, vice president and dean of admissions. "Above all, we remain deeply committed to ensuring that a Swarthmore education remains accessible and affordable for all qualified students."

Of the admitted students attending high schools reporting class rank (36 percent), 33 percent are valedictorians or salutatorians. Fifty-two percent are in the top two percent of their high school class, and 92 percent are in the top decile.

The admitted students come from or represent six continents, 56 nations, and 48 U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. California is the most highly represented home state of members in the newly admitted class. Following, in order, are New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, Connecticut, and Florida.

China, with 25 students, is the most represented nation among non-U.S. citizens in the admitted class. Eight are from India. Six each are from Hong Kong and Japan. Five each are from Canada, Great Britain, including England and Scotland, Korea, and Mexico. Four are from Germany. Three each are from Pakistan and Vietnam. Two each are from Malaysia, Nepal, Romania, and Singapore. One each is from Australia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Norway, Myanmar, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Uganda.

Additionally, there are many students who carry dual citizenship with the U.S. or who have permanent residency whose nationalities are not included in this summary.

Fifty-eight percent of the admitted students come from public high schools, 29 percent from private independent schools, five percent from parochial schools, and eight percent from schools overseas. Seventeen percent of the admitted students are among the first generation in their family to attend college.

Engineering is the most popular intended major among the admitted students. Next, in order, are "undecided," biology, political science, economics, English literature, mathematics, physics, computer science, and chemistry.