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Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA · 1.6k students

ElitePrivateSuburbBachelorCampus-basedswarthmore.edu
80.6/100

Trajecta score

+0.9 since '20

Ranked #30 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

79.3 · #24

2020

81.1 · #16

2021

81.0 · #16

2022

82.7 · #12

2023

80.2 · #25

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

95/ 100

Career Outcomes

79/ 100

Student Success

88/ 100

Affordability

64/ 100

Academic Investment

97/ 100

Access & Equity

51/ 100

Academic Profile

95

Career Outcomes

79

Student Success

88

Affordability

64

Academic Investment

97

Access & Equity

51

AI Fit Analysis

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Cost / Net Price

$84k / $23k

SAT Avg

1,534

Retention

94%

Grad Rate

93%

Admissions

7%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Test Scores

SAT Range1,534
4001000120014001600
25th: 1,490Average: 1,53475th: 1,560
ACT Range34
118243036
25th: 33Midpoint: 3475th: 35

Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$65,494

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$65,494

per year

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

19%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

11%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$17,500

Admissions Factors

What Swarthmore College says it weighs

Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.

Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Swarthmore College reports weighing in admissions.

FactorVery ImportantImportantConsideredNot Considered
Rigor of secondary school recordRigor of secondary school record: Very Important
Class rankClass rank: Very Important
Academic GPAAcademic GPA: Very Important
Standardized test scoresStandardized test scores: Considered
Application essayApplication essay: Very Important
Recommendation(s)Recommendation(s): Very Important
InterviewInterview: Considered
Extracurricular activitiesExtracurricular activities: Considered
Talent/abilityTalent/ability: Considered
Character/personal qualitiesCharacter/personal qualities: Very Important
First generationFirst generation: Considered
Alumni/ae relationAlumni/ae relation: Considered
Geographical residenceGeographical residence: Considered
State residencyState residency: Considered
Religious affiliation/commitmentReligious affiliation/commitment: Considered
Volunteer workVolunteer work: Considered
Work experienceWork experience: Considered
Level of applicant's interestLevel of applicant's interest: Not Considered

Supplemental Essays · 2025-26

school's admissions site ↗

Swarthmore College essay prompts

Identity and community

Required250 words

Swarthmore College maintains an ongoing commitment of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive residential community dedicated to rigorous intellectual inquiry. All who engage in our community are empowered through the open exchange of ideas guided by equity and social responsibility to thrive and contribute as bridge builders within global communities. Our identities and perspectives are supported and developed by our immediate contexts and lived experiences – in our neighborhoods, families, classrooms, communities of faith, and more. What aspects of your self-identity or personal background are most significant to you? Reflecting on the elements of your home, school, or other communities that have shaped your life, explain how you have grown in your ability to navigate differences when engaging with others, or demonstrated your ability to collaborate in communities other than your own.

Intellectual curiosity

Required250 words

Swarthmore’s community of learners inspire one another through their collaborative and flexible approach to learning. Swarthmore students are comfortable with intellectual experimentation and connection of ideas across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies through a liberal arts education. Tell us about a topic that has fascinated you recently – either inside or outside of the classroom. What made you curious about this? Has this topic connected across other areas of your interests? How has this experience shaped you and what encourages you to keep exploring?

Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

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