Swarthmore, which begins its 158th year of instruction on August 31, welcomed 436 first-year students to campus last week. The students were selected from one of the most competitive applicant pools in the College’s history.

Vice President and Dean of Admissions Jim Bock ’90 shares, “Forty years ago, as a member of the Class of 1990, I was in the exact position our new students find themselves in today. I am still as excited and invigorated by all the potential that lies ahead with each new class of Swatties. After our admissions committees read just over 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.”

He continues, “We are thrilled to welcome 25 transfer students, 12 of whom come from community colleges across six different states — our most robust class in recent history. We look forward to expanding our outreach to local and national community colleges as part of Swarthmore Forward. “

The incoming students “have excelled at some of the highest levels and made a meaningful impact within their local and global communities,” Bock adds. They include a student who biked nearly 2,000 miles from Colorado to Swarthmore to begin his first year, a National History Day national qualifier, a founding member of an organization that provides sports equipment to children in under-resourced communities, the founder of a digital youth-centered magazine focused on Harlem, and a student who raised over $30,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As of September 1, our 436 new students represent 46 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Twenty-eight percent are international, dual U.S. citizens, and permanent residents representing 46 countries. The farthest travel to Swarthmore was all the way from Malaysia. 

Class of 2030

Swarthmore, which begins its 158th year of instruction on August 31, welcomed 436 first-year students to campus last week. The students were selected from one of the most competitive applicant pools in the College’s history.

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Representing 27% of the first-year class, the College’s student-athletes got an early jump by joining campus a week early for practice. The College is also welcoming two exchange students from the University of Tokyo and one from Pomona College.

Swarthmore’s holistic admissions process welcomes a student body that represents people from all walks of life. Forty-five percent of this year’s enrolling students are domestic students of color. Twenty percent of this year’s class are the first generation in their family to attend college, and 22% receive Pell Grants.  

In terms of high schools, 50% of the Class of 2030 attended public or public selective schools, 24% private, 12% religious, and 14% international and American schools overseas.

Bock highlights, “Increasing access to a Swarthmore education is at the root of our work. I am particularly excited to introduce the Swarthmore Tuition Guarantee this year while we are out on the road recruiting the Class of 2031 and beyond. I’m so grateful for the dedication, collaboration, and ingenuity of my colleagues in Admissions and Financial Aid to bring us to this point. Looking ahead, I can’t wait to see how these new students experience our transformative liberal arts education.”

Together, the Class of 2030 reflects Swarthmore's interdisciplinary and wide-ranging academic landscape. Among the most popular anticipated majors are engineering, undecided (in a true liberal arts fashion), biology, political science, economics, English literature, mathematics and statistics, philosophy, biochemistry, neuroscience, history, and psychology.

Prior to the first day of instruction, the Class of 2030 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:

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