Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · private nonprofit
Official site ↗Admissions
| Admit rate | 7.5% |
| Applicants | 13,065 |
| Middle-50% SAT | 1460–1560 |
| Middle-50% ACT | 33–34 |
| Avg GPA | — |
| Test policy | — |
| Avg net price / yr | $18,686 |
| Grad rate | 94% |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $80,257 |
| Source | cds · 2024 |
Application requirements
| Early Decision | 2025-11-15 |
| Early Decision II | 2026-01-04 |
| Regular / Rolling | 2026-01-04 |
| Application fee | $60 (US) · $60 (intl) |
| Personal essay | Required |
| Test policy | never required |
| Teacher recommendations | 2 |
| Counselor recommendation | Required |
| Mid-year report | Required |
Source: Common App first-year Requirements Grid, 2025-26 cycle. Confirm on the college's site — requirements can change mid-cycle.
Supplemental essays
~250 words each.
- 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.
- 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?
Copied verbatim from the school's official admissions page (2025-26 cycle).