Class of 2029 Embarks on Swarthmore Journey

September 3rd, 2025 Ryan Dougherty

Aerial shot of Class of 2029, arranged in 2029 — Members of the incoming class represent 42 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Twenty-seven percent are international citizens, dual citizens, or permanent residents.

Swarthmore, which begins its 157th year of instruction on Sept. 2, welcomed 427 first-year students to campus last week. The students were selected from one of the most competitive applicant pools in the College’s history.

“Reflecting on the many challenges we have faced in higher education over the last year, I think this is an important moment to welcome the Class of 2029 with joy and pride,” says Jim Bock ’90, vice president and dean of Admissions.

“After our admissions committees read nearly 13,000 applications, it became abundantly clear that these incoming students are passionate about making a positive difference in the world, and of course, here at Swarthmore.”

Bock said he is particularly excited to welcome 19 transfer students, 32% of whom come from community colleges across the country — some of the College’s highest numbers in recent years.

“We look forward to expanding our outreach to local and national community colleges as part of Swarthmore Forward,” he adds. “Increasing access to a Swarthmore education is at the root of our work.”

The incoming students have excelled at some of the highest levels and made a meaningful impact within their local and global communities. They include students who created a smart beehive; coded a braille QR code; and captained their high school lacrosse team, placing third in a national championship.

Class of 2029 By the Numbers

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Members of the incoming class represent 42 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Twenty-seven percent are international citizens, dual citizens, or permanent residents. The farthest travel to Swarthmore was all the way from Singapore.

Also getting an early jump were many of the College’s student-athletes, who represent 24% of the first-year class. Practices and training began in earnest in mid-August.

Swarthmore’s holistic admissions process welcomes a student body that represents people from all walks of life. Forty-nine percent of this year’s enrolling students are domestic students of color, 23% of this year’s class are the first generation in their family to attend college, and 26% receive Pell Grants.

Together, the Class of 2029 reflects Swarthmore’s zeal for interdisciplinary and wide-ranging study. Among the most popular anticipated majors are engineering, economics, biology, English literature, political science, mathematics and statistics, environmental studies, physics, psychology, and global studies.

“I’m so grateful for the dedication, collaboration, and ingenuity of my colleagues in Admissions and Financial Aid to bring us to this point,” Bock says. “Looking ahead, I can’t wait to see how these new students come together and join in our shared mission to foster an inclusive, brilliant community.”

Prior to the first day of instruction, the Class of 2029 gathered in the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater for its First Collection, a time-honored Swarthmore tradition unlike any other. Check out photos of the event below: